UCL: Guardiola cancels Man City training ahead of Real Madrid clash

The decision comes as the team faces the monumental task of overturning a 3-0 first-leg deficit in the round of 16 to keep their European hopes alive. 

Guardiola's choice to prioritise recovery over a final training session follows a demanding travel schedule.

After returning from Madrid last week, City travelled to London for a Saturday evening Premier League fixture against West Ham, which ended in a 1-1 draw.

Speaking ahead of the second-leg clash with Real Madrid at the Etihad Stadium, Guardiola gave his team a day off from training.

According to reports from the BBC, Man City manager Pep Guardiola said, "We train tomorrow [before the game]."

Guardiola revealed that the move to postpone training is a way of preparing his players mentally for the challenge: "It's related. The way you play, if you play well mentally, you will be strong.

"I am not much concerned about the chances we are going to create; I am pretty sure that we are able to do it. At home we are always able to do it. It is more about how well we are going to defend.

"The task is massive; to score more than three goals against Real Madrid, it is not easy. The result in the first leg is not the perfect one, but at the same time we are here; it is a football game, and everything can happen.

"We have to create as much momentum as possible and do a good game for the talented players we have and defend well."

Man City have a huge task ahead of them, as they will need to overturn a three-goal deficit if they are to have a chance in the quarter-final.