Seven players and a further 14 coaching staff, including the Catalan and Juanma Lillo, were unable to travel with the squad having tested positive in the build-up to the game.
Nonetheless, goals from Bernardo Silva, Gabriel Jesus, Ilkay Gundogan and Cole Palmer ensured we progressed into the fourth round with a convincing victory.
As he had suggested in his pre-match press conference, Borrell revealed that Guardiola had communicated with him remotely during the game, but also pointed out that the City boss had trusted him and the coaching staff to get the job done at the County Ground.
“No, the reality is that we planned the game together as we always do - not only with him but with Juanma (Lillo) as well,” he reflected.
“We always plan the games together and everything, but the reality is that he trusts us a lot - not only me but all the backroom staff.
“He said ‘go with what you believe and feel, and you can call me anytime if you need to’, but that didn’t need to happen.
“We had a short conversation at half-time about things, we were insisting on some concepts we wanted to keep in place but that’s it.
“My phone battery is dead, so I haven’t had a chance to talk to him after the game yet!”
Hear Rodolfo Borrell‘s post-match thoughts in full via the video above...
