Guardiola Delivers Shocking Fitness Ultimatum That Could Shake Up Man City's Starting XI
Pep Guardiola, the Manchester City boss, has issued a stern ultimatum to his squad members that any player returning from the holiday period carrying excess weight will face immediate exclusion from team selection.
City finds themselves in second position in the Premier League standings following their commanding 3-0 victory against West Ham United, a result that briefly elevated them to the summit before Arsenal reclaimed their two-point lead with a win over Everton.
"The squad requested a rest day from me. I declined because their performance wasn't satisfactory," Guardiola stated while establishing clear expectations for his players regarding their holiday activities.
"Therefore, Sunday will be for recovery, training for those who didn't feature, and following three days of rest they'll have two sessions to prepare for our match against Nottingham Forest."
Although traditional holiday feasts await most people, Guardiola showed no intention of allowing his title-contending team to overindulge during the winter recess, promising to personally monitor each player's weight when they return.
Guardiola: Excess Weight Means Squad Exclusion
"Each player has a target weight," he emphasized. "They return on the 25th and I'll be present to monitor their weight gain, checking if they've put on excess pounds.
"The instant they arrive after their three-day break, I want to assess their condition. They're free to enjoy meals, but I need to maintain oversight. I must finalize my squad selection for our December 27th fixture against Nottingham Forest.
"Consider a player who's currently in ideal shape but returns carrying three additional kilograms. He'll remain in Manchester. He won't be traveling to face Nottingham Forest."
Guardiola remains focused on another Premier League championship pursuit, having successfully reduced Arsenal's advantage from seven points down to merely two. The City manager appears increasingly optimistic about his team's chances while acknowledging the challenging task ahead.
Arsenal's manager Mikel Arteta is deliberately avoiding attention to City's comeback efforts to maintain concentration on his own team, though Guardiola aims to create enough momentum that his former assistant will be forced to acknowledge their presence.