Man City to weigh players before Forest game

Pep Guardiola mentioned that his Manchester City squad will undergo weight checks upon their return to practice to ensure they are in optimal condition for the match against Nottingham Forest on December 27.

City secured a 3-0 victory over West Ham on Saturday in their latest game before the holiday season.

Guardiola indicated that his team met the necessary weight standards prior to the West Ham match and will be reassessed when they return for training next week.

“When they arrive back after three days [off], I want to observe their return. They are allowed to eat, but I want to manage their diets,” the 54-year-old stated on Saturday.

“Consider a player who is currently in excellent shape but shows up with three additional kilos.

“He will remain in Manchester; he will not make the journey to Nottingham Forest.”

Guardiola is recognized as a stringent coach regarding player fitness, having previously sidelined some of his players from first-team training in 2016 until they achieved specific weight goals.

Former City defender Gael Clichy recounted that Guardiola advised his players to steer clear of pizza, certain juices, and other «heavy meals».

Guardiola had earlier expressed regret to Kalvin Phillips after commenting on the City midfielder being «overweight» upon his return from the 2022 Qatar World Cup.

City trails Premier League frontrunners Arsenal, who defeated Everton 1-0 on Saturday, by two points and will face Forest before an away match against Sunderland on New Year’s Day.

Guardiola stated he has no concerns regarding his team’s fitness or running stamina, but they simply «need to perform better».

“The players requested a day off for tomorrow’s [Sunday’s] training, but I declined, as they did not meet performance expectations,” Guardiola remarked.

“So a recovery session on Sunday, training for those who didn’t play, and after three days off, they’ll have two days to prepare for Nottingham Forest.”

Guardiola also emphasized the importance of allowing his players to spend time with their families during the festive season.

“I’ve learned in England that as many days [for which you can] give them off, you should do so,” he added.

“The match schedule is extremely demanding, and players must be able to reset. When it’s game time, they will feel fresh.”