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The Manchester City manager warned his players their weight would be checked before and after Christmas as he seeks to keep the squad in the best shape possible over the festive period
Pep Guardiola’s warning over player weigh-ins has seemingly been heeded at Manchester City. The City boss warned his squad ahead of the Christmas period that they would be punished for any over-indulgence as he seeks to keep the team in the best shape possible.
The message prompted a cheeky social media post from Erling Haaland on Christmas Day, in which he appeared to be standing on some scales showing a weight of 94.4kg. “All good!” was the accompanying caption from the Norway international.
Speaking on Friday, Guardiola said that the players reported to training on Christmas evening in the kind of condition he would like. “I gain four or five kilograms because of the amount of food and drinks that I have, so it is really good,” he said.
“[The players] have been incredibly disciplined for the last 10 years. Last season, because of the injuries we had, it was a little bit more difficult, but they always behaved unbelievably.
“All the players I have had in the last decade — and that is no exception today. We have a standard as a club; everybody knows exactly what they have to do.”
City could temporarily move to the top of the Premier League table on Saturday when they visit Nottingham Forest in the day’s early kick-off.
They trail league leaders Arsenal by two points going into the weekend’s fixtures. The Gunners are in action later in the day against Brighton & Hove Albion at the Emirates Stadium.
Guardiola confirmed that Rodri could make his return to the squad at Forest, although City will be without Jérémy Doku and John Stones due to injury.
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