Man City to weigh players before Forest game

In their final game before Christmas, City defeated West Ham 3-0 on Saturday.

Before the West Ham game, Guardiola said his players were properly weighed before the game, and they will be weighed again when they report for training next week.

I want to see how they return when they arrive after three days of [off]. They can eat, but I want to keep them in control, the 54-year-old said on Saturday.

“Imagine a player who is perfect now, but he will arrive with three kilograms more.”

Guardiola is regarded as a strict coach when it comes to player fitness levels, and he removed some of his squad’s first-team training from the squad until they met certain weight goals in 2016.

Gael Clichy, a former City full-back, claimed Guardiola had instructed his players to stay away from pizza, some juice, and some “heavy food.”

Kalvin Phillips was previously offered an apology by Guardiola after being alleged to be “overweight” when he returned from the 2022 Qatar World Cup.

Arsenal, who defeated Everton 1-0 on Saturday, is two points clear of City, who hosts Forest before a New Year’s Day away game at Sunderland.

Guardiola said he had no issues with his team’s strength or training, but that they simply “must play better.”

The players asked me to take off tomorrow’s [Sunday’s] training session, but I declined because they didn’t play well enough, Guardiola said.

After three days off, the players have two days to prepare for Nottingham Forest, so Sunday recovery, training, and recovery.

Guardiola added that during the holiday season, his players should spend time with their families.

As many days as you can have a day off, you give them, he continued, “I’ve learned from England since I arrived.”