Players have been able to take on fluid during a one-minute stoppage in each half since our domestic campaign restarted last month, with managers often taking advantage of the opportunity to speak to their squad.
It has prompted much discussion as to whether the temporary rule should be made permanent from the start of the 2020/21 season, but Guardiola does not feel that is necessary.
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“No,” he said when asked if he would support such a move.
“I think we did it because of the lack of preparation for all of the teams, with just three weeks before the start of the competition and maybe for the weather conditions.
“The managers use it to talk to players, of course.”
Guardiola also confirmed he has no fresh injury concerns ahead of City’s game against Newcastle on Wednesday evening.
“No news is good news,” was his response when asked for a squad update at his pre-match press conference, where he refused to comment on recent transfer speculation linking the Club with Napoli’s Kalidou Koulibaly.
Victory over Newcastle would leave City needing just two points to qualify for next season’s Champions League.
Since football restarted, Guardiola has been adamant that this was his squad’s primary aim, wanting to do so as quickly as possible ahead of our FA Cup semi-final against Arsenal and the resumption of our European campaign.
He has been encouraged by his players attitude, but admits the 1-0 defeat to Southampton was a timely reminder that we have to take our chances in games, particularly if we are to lift another trophy this season.
“The commitment with the players is without a doubt - after two or three successful seasons - unbelievable,” he added.
“We are at the point where we sometimes make mistakes. We have to avoid that. In some games the lack of goals punishes us as a team.
“We are in the semi-finals against Arsenal and have Real Madrid. If we are consistent in both boxes, we have a big opportunity to go through.
“If it is like what happened against Southampton and other games this season, like Tottenham away and Tottenham at home, like Norwich away and games where we dropped points, then we’ll be out.
“Arsenal will be in the final and Madrid will go through. That is the reality we have to accept.
“Hopefully we can be lucky to convert what we produce and to defend so we concede less.
“I don’t have doubts the team will be there to compete, like we have done all this season.”
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