Pep Guardiola makes shocking resolution forward of Champions League second leg towards Real Madrid as Man City look to drag off unlikely comeback

Pep Guardiola has taken the unusual step of affording Manchester City‘s stars the day off before they play Real Madrid.

Defeat at the Bernabeu means City trail 3-0 in the Champions League last-16 tie and their Premier League aspirations took a dent at West Ham.

The 1-1 draw in East London on Saturday night now leaves them nine points adrift of Arsenal and there is also a mountain to climb if City are to progress in Europe.

Guardiola made the decision to give the players a day off in the aftermath of West Ham and has said anybody who doesn’t believe they can overturn the deficit with Real on Tuesday should ‘stay at home’.

It is not the first time Guardiola has made the move this season, with no training the day before facing Borussia Dortmund prompting surprise.

Real Madrid hammered Manchester City 3-0 in Spain last week, leaving Pep Guardiola’s men with a mountain to climb in Manchester this week

City went on to hammer the Germans 4-1, Phil Foden scoring a brace either side of half-time.

The team has occasionally trained on the morning of matches in the past to run through final drills.

Guardiola and captain Bernardo Silva will be on media duties at City’s training ground at lunch time.