Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has issued a stern warning to his players, threatening to exclude them from upcoming matches if they return from the Christmas break having gained weight, as the club pushes for the Premier League title.
Guardiola revealed that the squad was weighed before their short festive hiatus and will be checked again on December 25, with any noticeable increase potentially leading to 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 after City’s 3-0 victory over West Ham United on Sunday.
“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,” he added.
The Spanish coach emphasized that while players are permitted to enjoy the holiday, discipline remains paramount.
“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 stated.
He also disclosed that the team had requested an additional day off following the West Ham win, which he denied due to subpar performance.
“The players asked me to take a day off tomorrow, I said, no, because you didn’t play good enough,” he explained.
Guardiola’s strict approach echoes past actions, such as sidelining midfielder Kalvin Phillips in 2022 over similar weight concerns during a winter break.
Manchester City, currently two points behind league leaders Arsenal, face Nottingham Forest away on December 27 as they aim to maintain focus amid the busy holiday schedule.
