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Guardiola Missed City’s press conference on Friday for personal reasons, a day after speaking at a charity event in Manchester barcelona support Palestine children.
The Manchester City boss was due to hold a lunchtime press conference to preview Sunday’s Premier League match against Tottenham Hotspur, but assistant manager Pep Lijnders took his place.
City have yet to provide details of Guardiola’s absence but he is expected to return to England on Friday and oversee Saturday’s training as planned.
Lijnders said: “The manager is as good as ever, full of ambition and passion, but this is a personal matter. He will return to Manchester today.”
Guardiola also missed the pre-match press conference last month due to personal issues. Another of his backroom staff, Kolo Toure, filled the vacancy at the time.
Lijnders, a former assistant to Jurgen Klopp at Liverpool, spoke to the media on behalf of Guardiola after Manchester City’s FA Cup third-round win over Exeter on January 10. Guardiola watched that game from the stands and was suspended at the time.
Lijnders confirmed the club’s support for defender Ruben Dias after his home with partner TV presenter Maya Jama was burgled this week.
Neither man was at the hotel at the time, with Dias currently injured and watching the Champions League match against Manchester City. Galatasaray Wednesday and Jama work abroad.
“I haven’t spoken to him personally, but Ruben will be back for team training on Monday,” Lijnders said.
“These are things you don’t want to happen. We’ll support him and see what happens next.”
Winger Jeremy Doku is currently sidelined after suffering a calf injury in City’s 2-0 win over Galatasaray, which helped City advance to the last 16 of the Champions League.
Lijnders said: “This time the injury was similar to the last injury, which took 18 days. I think this time it will be shorter, but we will see. Jeremy is a strong player.”
Manchester City reduced Arsenal’s lead at the top of the Premier League table to four points last weekend and Lijnders hopes they can keep up the pressure on the Gunners.
The Dutchman said: “I’ve been in a few title fights but I’m always focused on the next one.
“You have to win your own race, create your own path, challenge yourself to grow and do things better within your control.
“That way you have to put pressure on, catch up and get behind them. They have to feel us and that can only happen by winning football games.”