Guardiola Warns City Squad Over Christmas Discipline Ahead of Forest Trip
Pep Guardiola has told his Manchester City players that any loss of discipline over the Christmas break could cost them a place in the squad for the upcoming Premier League match against Nottingham Forest.
The warning came after City’s 3–0 victory over West Ham on Saturday, a result that kept the champions firmly in the title race. Guardiola revealed that players were weighed before the match and will be checked again when they return to training on Christmas Day, with selection decisions to follow quickly.
The City manager made it clear that physical condition will directly affect squad choices for the trip to the City Ground on December 27. Players who return carrying extra weight risk being left behind, regardless of their importance or recent form.
The message arrives at a key moment in City’s season. The club sits second in the Premier League table, two points behind leaders Arsenal, and the festive schedule leaves little room for errors, both on and off the pitch.
Despite the comfortable scoreline against West Ham, Guardiola was not fully satisfied with the performance. He described sections of the display as below standard, a reaction that underlined his expectations even after a routine win.
That dissatisfaction had immediate consequences. A planned day off on Sunday was cancelled, with recovery and training sessions scheduled instead, particularly for players who did not feature against West Ham. The break was reduced to three days, followed by a short turnaround to prepare for Nottingham Forest.
City controlled much of the match at the Etihad, but Guardiola felt the rhythm and sharpness were not where they needed to be. The insistence on discipline reflects his belief that marginal gains can decide matches during the congested winter period.
The second half of the discussion focused on managing fatigue and focus. While players have been encouraged to spend time with their families and mentally switch off, Guardiola has drawn a firm line when it comes to physical standards.
The Forest match now looms as an early test of that message. With the title race tight and the calendar unforgiving, Guardiola’s stance reinforces a familiar theme at City: form, fitness, and focus are non-negotiable, even during Christmas.