Pep Guardiola has warned his Manchester City players that there will be no festive leniency, with the manager confirming he will weigh the squad on Christmas Day to ensure standards are not compromised during their short break.
City head into the Christmas period on the back of a 3-0 Premier League win over West Ham United, with Erling Haaland scoring twice and Tijjani Reijnders also on target.
Despite the result, Guardiola made it clear the performance did not meet his expectations and discipline would remain non-negotiable.
Guardiola threatens to drop players who gain weight after Christmas holiday
Pep Guardiola warns Manchester United players against weight gain – Getty image
“They will be weighed again to see if they come back fatty”
Guardiola revealed that players had already been weighed before their time off and will be checked again on December 25, warning that any increase 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.”
No excuses despite time off
The City manager disclosed that players had asked for an extra day off following the West Ham win, a request he flatly rejected.
“The players asked me to take a day off tomorrow, I said, no, because you didn’t play good enough,” Guardiola explained.
He added that while players are allowed to enjoy themselves, control remains central to his approach.
“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.”
Past examples underline Guardiola’s stance
Guardiola has previously dropped players for failing to meet fitness standards, notably Kalvin Phillips after weight concerns during the 2022 winter break. He made clear that similar decisions will be taken again if necessary.
City are next in action away at Nottingham Forest, sitting two points behind Premier League leaders Arsenal, as Guardiola continues to demand total focus from his squad during the title run-in.