City boss threatens to bench overweight players for Nottingham Forest clash on December 27.

Pep Guardiola

Guardiola Demands Discipline During Festive Break

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has delivered a no-nonsense warning to his players ahead of the Christmas break: return overweight and you’ll miss the Premier League trip to Nottingham Forest on December 27, 2025.

Speaking after City’s 3-0 win over West Ham, Guardiola announced planned weight checks upon the squad’s return.

“If a player comes back with three kilos more, he will stay in Manchester. He will not travel to Nottingham Forest,” he said firmly.

He also denied requests for extra time off: “They asked for Sunday off, and I said no, because they didn’t play well enough. We have to play better.”

Despite the victory, Guardiola stressed the need for rest in a congested calendar but balanced it with recovery: “I’ve learned in England that as many days off as you can give, you give them… When it’s time to play, they will be fresh.”

History of Strict Fitness Standards

Guardiola’s tough stance on conditioning is legendary. He has previously excluded players from training for failing fitness targets and once apologized to Kalvin Phillips for publicly calling him “overweight” post-2022 World Cup.

Former City defender Gaël Clichy recalled advice to avoid pizza, juice, and heavy foods.

Players passed checks before West Ham and face the same next week.

City trail leaders Arsenal by two points, making every detail count in the title race.

A classic Pep reminder: enjoy Christmas, but stay sharp.