Guardiola Praises Players' Discipline Ahead of Nottingham Forest Clash
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has commended his players for their remarkable discipline during the Christmas break, emphasizing the high standards the club has set.
In a statement last week, Guardiola mentioned that the players would be weighed upon their return to training after the holiday to ensure they are fit for their upcoming match against Nottingham Forest on Saturday at 12:30 GMT.
"I typically gain four or five kilograms from the amount of food and drinks I consume, so it’s really important to stay disciplined," Guardiola remarked on Friday.
He added, "The players have been incredibly disciplined over the past decade. Last season was a bit more challenging due to injuries, but they have consistently performed exceptionally well. All the players I've had in the last ten years have adhered to our standards, and this group is no exception. Everyone knows exactly what is expected of them at this club."
Guardiola noted that the players met the required fitness standards before their 3-0 victory against West Ham on December 20. Recently, striker Erling Haaland shared a photo on social media showing his weight at 94.4 kg, captioned, "All good!"
In the past, Guardiola has taken strict measures with players who did not meet weight targets, including excluding some from first-team training in 2016. He also publicly apologized to midfielder Kalvin Phillips 14 months after describing him as "overweight" following his return from the 2022 World Cup.
If Manchester City secures a win against Nottingham Forest, they could move to the top of the Premier League standings, as current leaders Arsenal face Brighton later on Saturday at 15:00.
Guardiola expressed, "I would prefer to be 10 points ahead of everyone, but it is what it is. Things are going well, but we still have work to do. We are at the end of December, competing strongly in the Champions League, Premier League, and are in the semi-finals of the Carabao Cup, with the FA Cup starting soon."
He also mentioned that anything could happen during the January transfer window, revealing that the club is in advanced discussions to sign Bournemouth forward Antoine Semenyo. "At the start of last season, I never expected to enter the transfer window needing four or five players due to injuries, but the situation is open and anything can occur," Guardiola stated.
Currently, City is without defender John Stones and winger Jeremy Doku due to injuries. However, Guardiola indicated that midfielder Rodri is recovering well from a hamstring issue and could be assessed before Saturday's match.