Newport County boss Warren Feeney has revealed that Manchester City turned down his request to watch them train this week.
City are currently staying in South Wales as they play back-to-back games against Swansea City, and Feeney has admitted that he tried to take advantage of the Premier League leaders being in the same part of the country.
However, the manager of the League Two side says that he was quickly rebuffed in his attempts to take some pointers from Pep Guardiola.
The 35-year-old is quoted by BBC Sport as saying: "It was a big 'no' from them.
"There was a possibility, but I think it's Pep's ruthlessness that he likes to keep it all in house which you can understand as they're a world-class team."
Newport currently sit in 22nd position at the fourth tier of English football.