‘They become fat!’- Guardiola on monitoring his players’ weight over Christmas | OneFootball

Manchester City have a rare week off and it falls over Christmas, but manager Pep Guardiola said he will be keeping a strict eye on his players’ weight over that time.

City beat West Ham 3-0 this weekend, in many ways the perfect Christmas present. And Guardiola said the players will get a few days off over the festive period.

But before the game against Nottingham Forest on the 27th, he will monitor their weight closely: “Yesterday they had to make weight. And on 25 (Christmas), I will be there, controlling how many kilos come up. They become fat. So, listen, I don’t say one word I don’t mean. This is the truth.

“The moment they arrive after three days, I want to see how they come back (what they weigh). They can eat, but I want to control them.

“I have to make a selection on the 27th against Nottingham Forest. So imagine one player was perfect (weight), and then arrives with three kilos more. He will be in Manchester. He will not travel to Nottingham Forest. That’s for sure.”

This is famously one of the most busy periods of the season, and asked if it is difficult to try and give his players time off, Guardiola said: “No, it depends on the schedule. In that time I always give as much as I can (time off). Listen, I learned in England, I have done this many times. As many days as you can give off, give them. The schedule is so tight, and the players have to forget (football).

“They have to arrive right in the moment, the game, in the legs. That’s why I have to (let them) recover. The players have to go with their families, forget football. I will work for them, as always.”