Don’t Come Back From Christmas Overweight, Guardiola Warns Players

Manchester City coach Pep Guardiola has warned his players not to return from their short Christmas break overweight, ahead of a busy schedule in the Premier League.

Man City enjoyed a comfortable 3-0 win over West Ham United on Saturday but they won’t return to action until Saturday when they take on Nottingham Forest.

The Spanish manager said the players will be subjected to a Christmas weigh-in when they return from the short break.

Man City have a rare seven-day break before their next Premier League game at Nottingham Forest.

Guardiola said: “Every player makes a weight. They come back on the 25th and I will be there controlling how many kilos come up, (to see if) they come fatty.

“The moment they arrive after three days I want to see how they come back. They can eat but I want to control them.”

The Spaniard said players who returned to the club overweight would not play against Forest on December 27.

“Imagine one player and now he’s perfect but he will arrive with three kilos more. He will (stay) in Manchester,” he said. “He will not travel to Nottingham Forest.”

“Imagine one player and now he’s perfect but he will arrive with three kilos more. He will (stay) in Manchester. He will not travel to Nottingham Forest.”

Guardiola said it was important his men relaxed during a packed calendar as he heads to Barcelona for a brief rest.

He said: “The schedule is so tight and the players have to forget. The more they arrive at the right moment (the better). The moment of the game they will be fresh in the legs.

“The players have to go with the families and forget football. It’s good. For them to see the manager every day — that’s so tough.”

“The players asked me to take a day off. I said, ‘No because you didn’t play good enough.

“So Sunday recovery, train the guys that didn’t play, and after three days off they have two days to prepare for Nottingham Forest.”

Guardiola revealed that he was happy with the workrate of his players, and the amount of running they did at the Etihad.

He concluded: “The problem is not running. They have run more than anyone else it’s unbelievable and did you see them [against West Ham]? Phil and Erling? I love it. Last season that didn’t happen.

“One of the things in my teams from Barcelona B until now is that we run like an animal. But it’s not enough, we have to play better and [against West Ham] that was not good.”

The Cityzens are on a five-match winning streak as they battle Arsenal for the Premier League title.

Man City have won 12 out of their 17 matches in the Premier League this season, drawing one and losing four.