Rodolfo Borrell spoke to Pep Guardiola at half-time of Manchester City's win over Swindon but revealed his battery had run out by full-time.
The City boss tested positive for Covid-19 this week, forcing him as well as assistant Juanma Lillo and seven players to miss the FA Cup third-round tie at the County Ground. Borrell stepped up to lead the side in the absence of the manager and oversaw a 4-1 win that books their place in the next round of the competition.
Guardiola had a hand in planning the game with Borrell and was in communication at half-time when the two spoke about the need to cut off Swindon's ability to counter-attack that they had started to achieve more success with as the first half had progressed. However, there was no time for them to speak after the game because Borrell's phone was off.
"We always plan the games together and everything was as we had planned. The reality is that he trusts us a lot and all the backroom staff and said 'Listen just go with what you believe and what you feel and if you need me you can call me any time'.
"That didn't need to happen. At half time we had a short conversation, keep insisting on the same things we were doing in the first half because we were losing it a bit at the end of the first half so insisting on some concepts that we wanted to keep in place.
"I haven't been able to speak with him [after the match] because I ran out of battery and I haven't spoken to him at the end of the game and I'm very grateful."
