Guardiola Highlights Player Discipline as Manchester City Approaches Milestone

Pep Guardiola is set to mark a decade at Manchester City next summer. In a recent statement, he praised his players for their remarkable discipline over the holiday period, adhering to the high standards established by the club.

Guardiola mentioned that players would undergo weigh-ins upon returning from the Christmas break to ensure they are fit for their upcoming match against Nottingham Forest on Saturday at 12:30 GMT. “I tend to gain four to five kilograms due to the amount of food and drink consumed during this time, so it’s quite an experience,” he noted, adding, “The players have remained incredibly disciplined over the past ten years.”

He acknowledged that last season posed additional challenges due to injuries, but he commended his players for their exceptional behavior and commitment. “All the players I have coached in the last decade have consistently met our standards as a club, and that remains true today. Everyone understands their responsibilities.”

Guardiola reflected on how the team met the fitness criteria ahead of their 3-0 triumph over West Ham on December 20. Recently, striker Erling Haaland posted a picture on social media revealing his weight of 94.4 kg, captioned, “All good!”

The manager has previously made headlines by excluding players from first-team training until they achieved weight targets, and in 2024, he apologized to Kalvin Phillips over comments regarding the midfielder’s weight after the 2022 World Cup.

Looking ahead to the match against Nottingham Forest, Guardiola noted that a victory would position City at the top of the Premier League, contingent on Arsenal’s performance against Brighton later that day. “While I would prefer a 10-point cushion, we are currently performing well. It’s still December, and we are competing strongly in the Champions League and the Premier League, as well as advancing in the Carabao Cup. The FA Cup commences shortly, too.”

He also hinted at potential developments during the January transfer window, revealing the club is in advanced discussions to secure Bournemouth forward Antoine Semenyo. “At the beginning of last season, I never anticipated entering the transfer window with four or five players needing attention due to injuries, but the situation is fluid and anything can happen.”

As for the squad’s condition, City will miss defender John Stones and winger Jeremy Doku due to injury concerns, while Guardiola reported that midfielder Rodri is recovering well from a hamstring injury and may be evaluated prior to the match against Forest.