Pep Guardiola has made it clear that there will be no festive slack at Manchester City, revealing plans to weigh his players on Christmas Day to ensure standards are maintained during the short holiday break.
City head into the Christmas period buoyed by a 3-0 Premier League victory over West Ham United, with Erling Haaland netting a brace and Tijjani Reijnders also finding the scoresheet. Despite the convincing result, Guardiola was unimpressed with the overall performance and insisted that discipline within the squad remains non-negotiable.
The City boss disclosed that players were weighed before heading off for the break and will undergo another check on December 25. Any noticeable weight gain, he warned, could have immediate consequences.
“Yesterday, they were weighed and everything was perfect, but when they come back on the 25th, they will be weighed again to see if they come back fatty,” Guardiola said.
“The moment they arrive after three days [off] I want to see how they come back. I will be there controlling how many kilos come up.”
Guardiola also revealed that some players requested an additional day off following the win over West Ham, but the request was firmly turned down.
“The players asked me to take a day off tomorrow, I said, no, because you didn’t play good enough,” he explained.
While the manager acknowledged that players are allowed to enjoy the festive period, he stressed that control and professionalism are essential, especially with crucial fixtures ahead.
“They can eat, but I want to control them. I have to make a selection on the 27th. If one player is fit now but arrives back with three kilos more, he will [stay] in Manchester. He will not travel to Nottingham Forest.”
Guardiola has a history of enforcing strict fitness standards, having previously dropped players who failed to meet requirements, including Kalvin Phillips following weight concerns during the 2022 winter break. He made it clear that similar decisions will be made again if necessary.
Manchester City’s next match is an away clash against Nottingham Forest, with the champions currently sitting two points behind Premier League leaders Arsenal, as Guardiola continues to demand total focus from his squad in the title race.
