Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has confirmed that his players will be weighed when they return to training following the Christmas break, as part of preparations for their upcoming Premier League fixture against Nottingham Forest on 27 December. The move underlines Guardiola’s continued focus on fitness, discipline, and performance standards during a demanding festive schedule.

City head into the holiday period in confident form after securing a 3-0 victory over West Ham United, marking their final match before Christmas. However, despite the convincing win, Guardiola remains uncompromising when it comes to ensuring his squad maintains peak physical condition.

Guardiola’s Strict Approach to Player Fitness

Speaking after the West Ham game, Guardiola explained that players had already been weighed prior to that fixture and had met the required benchmarks. The same checks will be carried out again when the squad reconvenes for training next week.

“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.”

The City manager emphasized that even small changes in body weight could have consequences, especially during a congested fixture list.

“Imagine one player who is perfect now but arrives with three kilos more,” he added. “He will stay in Manchester. He will not travel to Nottingham Forest.”

Guardiola’s Reputation for Discipline

Guardiola has long been known as a demanding coach when it comes to fitness and professionalism. During his early years at Manchester City in 2016, he famously excluded several players from first-team training until they reached specific fitness and weight targets.

Former City defender Gaël Clichy previously revealed that Guardiola advised players to avoid foods such as pizza, sugary drinks, and other “heavy food” that could impact performance levels.

Despite his strict standards, Guardiola has also shown reflection and accountability. He previously apologised to midfielder Kalvin Phillips after publicly describing him as “overweight” following his return from the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.

Premier League Title Race Continues

Manchester City currently sit two points behind Premier League leaders Arsenal, who edged Everton 1-0 in their latest match. The Forest fixture will be followed by an away trip to Sunderland on New Year’s Day, making squad fitness crucial during the festive period.

While Guardiola dismissed concerns about his team’s overall conditioning, he admitted that recent performances have not always met expectations.

“I don’t have a problem with the fitness or how much they run,” he said. “We just have to play better.”

Training Decisions and Christmas Balance

Guardiola also revealed that he refused a request from players to cancel Sunday’s training session, citing performance levels as the reason.

“The players asked me to have Sunday off and I said no, because they didn’t play well enough,” he explained. “Sunday recovery, train the guys that didn’t play, then after three days off they have two days to prepare for Nottingham Forest.”

Despite this, Guardiola stressed the importance of allowing players time with their families during the festive season, highlighting lessons he has learned since managing in England.

“I’ve learned from England that as many days off as you can give, you give them,” he said. “The schedule is so tight and the players need to forget football for a moment. When matchday arrives, they will be fresh in their legs.”

As Manchester City continue their pursuit of another Premier League title, Guardiola’s attention to detail—both on and off the pitch—remains a defining feature of his management style.