Why was Pep Guardiola not in the dugout for City-Lyon fixture?

The Manchester City assistant took over pre-match press conference duties and sat on the bench in Guardiola’s stead.

The reason? Guardiola was serving a touchline ban as a result of his sending-off in last season’s quarter-final against Liverpool.

That left Arteta to direct affairs from the bench and the Spaniard was also given chance to warm up for managerial responsibilities as Guardiola asked him to carry out the pre-match press conference.

Arteta, 36, has no qualms about stepping in for Guardiola, with whom he was not allowed contact with during the game, but admitted before kick-off that it was not ideal to be without the inspirational head coach.

“Obviously he is very disappointed. We all know how much the Champions League means to him," Arteta said.

“But he had a reaction to something in a big game and they made a decision and this is the situation. We respect the decision.

“It is a good challenge, a very nice challenge, but if I had to choose, I would choose Pep on the touchline because he does that job better than anyone else.”

City went on to lose 2-1, with two defensively sloppy first-half goals giving the French visitors all three points.