‘I don’t mind them having a Christmas dinner’ – Dyche on weighing players

Sean Dyche, the manager of Nottingham Forest, has urged his players to use “common sense” over the holiday season and says he won’t compare their performance to Pep Guardiola’s.

Forest host City on Saturday (12:30 GMT), and Guardiola has stated that his players will be evaluated when they return to training to check that their fitness levels have not decreased over the festive season.

Do you believe Pep is weighing himself? When asked if he would approach the City manager in a similar way, Dyche frowned.

“On your passport it says professional footballer,” as I always say to the players. They are more than just footballers.

What about the professional side of football, everyone wants to play?

Forest are one place and five points above the relegation zone after falling to Fulham on Monday with a goal score of 1-0.

Dyche believes that modern gaming requires a lot more attention to detail, and he also wants to have some faith in his players.

You want athletes to enjoy their Christmas Day, but psychology can sometimes be more important than anything else. I do in every way. It constitutes a significant portion of their lives, he continued.

“I’d have to admit that I do value figures, but I’m not averse to weights and other things, but I have my eye on them.”

They will be urged to have fun throughout the day. They have a day off, but they should, in my opinion, use some common sense.