Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has given his squad a three-day break over Christmas, but with a firm caveat: players must watch their weight when they return or risk missing the next match.
City’s stars are free to enjoy time with family and the festive season following their comfortable 3-0 win over West Ham United, yet Guardiola, renowned for his strict approach to diet and conditioning, made it clear he will be monitoring any weight gain when training resumes. He said he would be weighing players on Christmas Day to check how much they have put on over the break.
“Every player makes a weight,” Guardiola told reporters, adding that he will be there to see how they “come back” on the 25th and that anyone who has returned overweight will not be selected for Manchester City’s next Premier League match against Nottingham Forest on December 27. The Spaniard joked about players potentially coming back “fatty,” underlining his determination to maintain high fitness standards even during holiday periods.
Despite the strict message on diet, Guardiola also stressed the importance of mental recovery. He said the brief break was essential given the tight fixture schedule, and that players need to switch off from football to refresh physically and mentally before a busy run of matches. He himself plans to spend time with family over the holiday.
City currently sit two points behind Premier League leaders Arsenal after 17 games, and Guardiola’s focus on maintaining peak conditioning reflects his desire to keep momentum in the title race during one of the league’s most congested periods.
In short: while City’s squad can enjoy Christmas dinner, Guardiola expects discipline alongside celebration — and will hold them accountable if they return out of shape.
