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Manchester City players will face a Christmas Day weigh-in after Pep Guardiola warned that anyone returning overweight from the festive break will be left out of the squad.
The City manager issued the blunt message following his side’s 3–0 Premier League win over West Ham on Saturday.
Despite the comfortable victory, which kept City close to leaders Arsenal and extended their league-winning run, Guardiola revealed that his squad had already been weighed before being given a short break.
He said players would be checked again on December 25 to ensure they had not overindulged during their time away.
Guardiola explained that while players were free to enjoy themselves, their condition would be closely monitored.
He warned that any player who returned carrying extra weight would not be selected for the Boxing Day period, making it clear that discipline over fitness was non-negotiable.
The Spaniard went further, saying that anyone who arrived several kilos heavier would stay behind in Manchester and miss the trip to face Nottingham Forest on December 27.
According to Guardiola, maintaining physical standards is essential given the intensity of the fixture schedule.
He hinted that the short break was still important for mental freshness, encouraging his players to spend time with their families and briefly switch off from football.
Guardiola himself plans to head to Barcelona for a short rest, acknowledging how demanding the calendar has become.
However, relaxation does not mean leniency. Guardiola admitted he refused to give his squad a day off after the West Ham win because he was unhappy with aspects of the performance, despite it being their fifth straight league victory. Instead, the players were put through recovery and training sessions before being allowed three days off.
City will now have two days to prepare for the Forest match once they return, with Guardiola making it clear that fitness levels over Christmas could directly determine who makes the trip.
