Pep Guardiola has turned the scales into the latest tool in his meticulous fitness toolbox, announcing that Manchester City players will be weighed when they return to training to determine who is fit to face Nottingham Forest on 27 December. The message was blunt and unmistakable: festive indulgence is permitted, but only under Guardiola’s strict supervision.
Manager who measures more than tactics
City arrived at the winter break on the back of a 3-0 win over West Ham, and Guardiola revealed the squad were weighed before that match and met his standards. He plans to repeat the ritual when players report back after three days off, insisting on a hands-on approach to ensure nobody returns carrying extra kilos that could cost them a place in the matchday squad.
“The moment they arrive after three days off, I want to see how they come back. They can eat, but I want to control them,” the 54-year-old said, painting a picture of a coach who treats fitness as precisely as formation. “Imagine one player, and now he’s perfect, but he will arrive with three kilos more. He will be in Manchester; he will not travel to Nottingham Forest.”
Notorious for tough love
This is not new territory for Guardiola. The Spaniard’s reputation for exacting standards stretches back years, including a 2016 episode where players were temporarily excluded from first-team training until they hit weight targets.
Former City full-back Gael Clichy once recalled Guardiola’s strict dietary rules, warning teammates off pizza, certain juices, and other “heavy food.”
Guardiola has also had to navigate delicate moments publicly, such as when he apologised to Kalvin Phillips after commenting on the midfielder’s weight following the 2022 World Cup.
The episode underlined the fine line Guardiola walks between candour and sensitivity.
Fitness, form and a packed schedule
City sit two points behind Premier League leaders Arsenal and must balance festive family time with a relentless fixture list. Guardiola insisted there is no issue with his players’ fitness or running, but he demanded better performances on the pitch. When players requested a training day off after the West Ham win, he refused, citing a need to sharpen standards.
“Sunday recovery, train the guys that didn’t play, and after three days off they have two days to prepare for Nottingham Forest,” he explained, while also acknowledging the importance of rest and family. “I’ve learned from England, since I arrived, that much days where you can have a day off, you give them. The schedule is so tight and the players have to forget. The moment of the game they will be fresh in the legs.”
The Christmas compromise
Guardiola’s approach is a blend of discipline and empathy. Players will get time with their families, but they will return under the watchful eye of a coach who believes marginal gains matter. As City chase silverware and a top spot in the table, Guardiola’s scales may prove as decisive as his tactics.
