Pep Guardiola has revealed Manchester City players will be weighed when they return to training after Christmas to ensure they are fit enough for their Premier League clash with Nottingham Forest on December 27.
City beat West Ham 3-0 on Saturday before being given a short break, but Guardiola said fitness standards will be strictly enforced when players report back.
“The moment they arrive after three days off, I want to see how they come back,” Guardiola said. “They can eat, but I want to control them. Imagine one player arrives with three kilos more – he will not travel to Nottingham Forest.”
The City boss explained that players were also weighed before the West Ham match and met the required targets, stressing that discipline remains non-negotiable.
Guardiola added that his concern is not running or fitness levels but overall performance. “We have to play better,” he said, admitting he refused a request for a full day off after the win because he felt the team had not performed well enough.
City sit two points behind league leaders Arsenal and face Forest before travelling to Sunderland on New Year’s Day, with Guardiola balancing strict standards and rest over the festive period.
“It’s important they spend time with their families,” he said. “But when the game comes, they have to be ready.”
