EPL: Overweight players’ll miss Forest match, Guardiola warns

Pep Guardiola has informed his Manchester City squad that they will be subjected to weight assessments upon their return from the holiday break, as he aims to ensure they are in good condition for the Premier League match against Nottingham Forest on December 27.

Manchester City concluded their pre-holiday games with a 3-0 win over West Ham on Saturday; however, Guardiola emphasized that maintaining fitness discipline will be mandatory throughout the holiday season.

According to BBC Sports on Monday, the City manager indicated that players were weighed prior to the West Ham game and met the desired benchmarks, pointing out that similar assessments will occur when they resume training next week.

“When they return after three days off, I want to see their condition. They can enjoy their meals, but I want to keep them in check.

“If a player returns gaining three extra kilos, he will remain in Manchester. He will not be part of the team going to Nottingham Forest,” Guardiola stated.

Guardiola is recognized for his stringent methods regarding fitness. Earlier during his management at City, numerous players were benched from first-team practice until they achieved fitness objectives. Former City player Gael Clichy previously shared that Guardiola advised the athletes to stay away from pizza, sugary drinks, and other heavy meals.

The manager has also tackled this topic publicly before, apologizing to midfielder Kalvin Phillips after he labeled him “overweight” following the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

Despite Saturday's easy victory, Guardiola expressed that he was not entirely satisfied with how his team performed.

He mentioned that the players requested Sunday off, but the training session proceeded as planned.

“They asked for Sunday off, and I declined, as they didn’t play to a high enough standard,” he remarked. “Sunday’s recovery will be for the guys who didn’t play, and then after three days off, they have two days to get ready for Nottingham Forest.”

City trails behind Premier League leaders Arsenal by two points and will take on Forest before heading to Sunderland on New Year's Day.

Guardiola stated he does not possess significant worries regarding his team's fitness levels or their effort but believes there is room for growth.

“We must enhance our performance,” he mentioned.

He also highlighted the significance of allowing players to spend time with their families during a rigorous schedule.

“I’ve realized in England that you should give players as many days off as possible,” Guardiola stated. “The schedule is extremely packed, and players need a chance to unwind. When it’s time to compete, they will be revitalized.”