Guardiola enforces strict Christmas rules for Manchester City Squad

Pep Guardiola has made it clear that Manchester City players will not be allowed to relax their discipline during the festive period, warning that fitness levels will be closely monitored over Christmas as the Premier League title race continues.

Following City’s 3–0 win over West Ham, the manager revealed that his players would report for training immediately after the match and again on Christmas Day. Guardiola confirmed that squad members would be weighed before and after their short break to ensure they return in the best condition, stressing that physical standards will not be compromised despite the holiday period.

The City boss admitted he was not fully satisfied with the performance against West Ham, despite goals from Erling Haaland and Tijjani Reijnders. He said the display did not merit a day off, reinforcing that constant improvement is required at the highest level.

Guardiola also warned that players who return from the break overweight risk being dropped from the squad. He referenced past decisions where individuals were left out due to fitness concerns and made it clear that similar measures would apply if necessary ahead of City’s trip to Nottingham Forest.

Manchester City currently sit just behind Arsenal in the title race and are looking to reclaim the Premier League crown.