Pep Guardiola left media duties to his deputy Mikel Arteta ahead of Manchester City’s Champions League clash with Lyon.
The City boss is serving a one-match touchline ban on Wednesday after being banished to the stands during defeat by Liverpool last season.
Guardiola was incensed by refereeing decisions in the first half of the quarter-final second leg at the Etihad Stadium.
Pep Guardiola is pictured smiling at a Premier League pre-match press conference in August
Guardiola serves a touchline ban for his antic in last season’s Champions League quarter-final
He sat up in the directors’ box for the second half and will do the same during the opening match of this season’s competition.
It’s understood that suspended managers have the choice of whether or not to attend pre-match press conferences.
Guardiola opted to leave that to Arteta, whose stature continues to grow at City. The former Arsenal midfielder is highly thought of and has an increasing role among Guardiola’s backroom team.
Arteta, who has not been officially named as assistant manager but has been given that title behind the scenes, hailed the current City team as the best in the world.
Mikel Arteta addressed the media in the absence of Guardiola at Tuesday’s conference
‘For me we have the best players in the world and I look at our players as if they are the best,’ Arteta said.
‘I wouldn’t change my players for any others. They are absolutely fantastic. The hunger is this group is incredible. Yes, we have the money to spend… (but) people have to look inside this club.
‘If I had to choose, I would choose Pep on the touchline, because he does that job better than anyone else. But it is a great challenge for me.
‘Up to now the preparation has been completely normal. The difference tomorrow is we will have some rules, you must respect. We can have no communication.
‘We clicked really quickly and understand each other really well and we think in the same direction. My learning in the last two years has been incredible.’
Arteta has not officially been named the assistant manager at City but has behind the scenes
Guardiola is also forbidden from taking the pre-match team talk or entering the tunnel when Lyon visit. Arteta could well have been doing that at Arsenal but insisted he has no regrets on missing out on that job.
The Gunners eventually appointed Unai Emery after previously looking likely to offer Arteta the chance to succeed Arsene Wenger.
‘I didn’t talk on that two or three months ago and I don’t think today is the day to talk about it,’ he said.
‘You all know some things happened and we all know I am here. I am privileged to be where I am. I feel very fulfilled.
‘If you ask, one day in the future I will be a coach and the answer is probably yes but I am very happy where I am and there is still a lot of room for this club to grow.’
Arteta says he feels ‘privileged’ to be at Manchester City after missing out on the Arsenal job