Pep Guardiola to Axe Any Man City Player Who Disobeys Strict Christmas Rule

Manchester City head coach Pep Guardiola is set to employ a strict rule, which could mean his players endure a tough festive period.

Guardiola watched his side beat West Ham United 3-0 at the Etihad on Saturday (December 20), with Erling Haaland’s brace and Tijjani Reijnders’ strike ensuring Man City secured all three points for the fifth successive Premier League game.

The win put City top for a few hours before Arsenal beat Everton 1-0 later in the evening.

And with his side currently in a rich vein of form, some players asked for a day off following the West Ham match, but Guardiola was not pleased with the side’s performance and refused their request, citing the fact he thought they “didn’t play good enough”.

City, like all Premier League teams, have a hectic schedule over the Christmas and New Year period, with the side in action ten times between December 27 and January 28.

Next up for City is a trip to the City Ground, where they will face Sean Dyche’s Nottingham Forest on December 27.

And ahead of the match, Guardiola has issued a warning to his players not to over-indulge at Christmas.

The City boss made it fairly clear that players who return overweight during the festive period will not be involved at Nottingham Forest.

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Speaking after City’s win against West Ham, Guardiola said: “The players asked me to take a day off. I said, ‘No, because you didn’t play good enough’.

“So Sunday recovery, train the guys that didn’t play, and after three days off, they have two days to prepare for Nottingham Forest.

"Every player makes a weight. They come back on the 25th, and I will be there controlling how many kilos come up, [to see if] they come fatty.

"The moment they arrive after three days, I want to see how they come back. They can eat, but I want to control them.

"I have to make a selection for 27 (December) against Nottingham Forest.

"Imagine one player, and now he’s perfect, but he will arrive with three kilos more. He will (stay) in Manchester. He will not travel to Nottingham Forest."

Guardiola has always been hot on his players’ weight, with the manager previously calling midfielder Kalvin Phillips overweight after the 2022 Qatar World Cup. The 54-year-old later apologised for his comments.

Of course, unlike most jobs, footballers work on Christmas Day, with many training and preparing for games while their families open their presents at home.

If a team plays on Boxing Day (December 26), training sessions will usually take place on the morning of the 25th before players are then allowed to spend the afternoon with their loved ones.

However, if a team is away on Boxing Day, like Newcastle United will be against Manchester United, they may be required to stay in a hotel on Christmas.

But with just one Premier League match on Boxing Day, most players should be able to spend Christmas at home.