Forget about football for Christmas, urges Pep | OneFootball

Pep Guardiola says it’s important for his players to take a break from football over Christmas.

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City have a rare seven days between fixtures following our 3-0 victory over West Ham United that extended our winning streak to seven matches.

We are next in action on Saturday 27 December at 12:30 (UK) when we travel to Nottingham Forest in the Premier League.

The players were at the City Football Academy for recovery sessions before time off which Guardiola urged his players to rest and relax away from football.

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“[Sunday] is recovery and with the guys that didn’t play then after that we have three days off and two days to prepare for Nottingham Forest,” he said.

Asked about training the boss added: “Next week it’s holidays, I don’t want to see them! Holidays - be with family and have champagne.

“Tomorrow I will go to Barcelona and I recommend you come there. The food is top.

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“When I arrived in the Premier League, I was told as much days as you can give [the players] off, give them. The schedule is so tight.

“They have to forget and arrive in the moment be fresh here (in the mind) and in the legs. That’s why they have to recover and they have to forget football.

“It’s good. For them to see the manager every day, it’s so tough.”

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Despite the 3-0 victory, the City boss still believes there are improvements that can be made on the pitch.

But he was happy with the workrate of his players and the amount of running they did at the Etihad.

“The problem is not running,” Guardiola said. “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.”