Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola expressed confidence in his squad’s response to the challenges of the festive period, praising their discipline after warning them against gaining weight during the holiday break.
Following a comfortable 3-0 win over West Ham before Christmas, City remain just two points behind Premier League leaders Arsenal. Guardiola revealed that players were weighed before the break and advised not to over-indulge ahead of their upcoming match against Nottingham Forest.
“I earn four or five kilos more for the amount of food and drinks that I have drunk, so it is really good,” Guardiola joked about himself. “But turning to my squad, they have been incredibly disciplined for the last 10 years.”
Despite some injury struggles last season, Guardiola praised his players’ professionalism and adherence to club standards. Manchester City are currently on a seven-game winning streak across all competitions and remain contenders for multiple trophies.
“I prefer to be 10 points ahead of everyone but it is what it is. Arsenal’s doing really well but we are there,” he said. Guardiola highlighted City’s strong position in the Premier League, Champions League, and Carabao Cup, with key players returning from injury.
Saturday’s match against Nottingham Forest will be the first since the passing of Forest legend John Robertson, who played a pivotal role in the club’s European Cup victories in 1979 and 1980. Guardiola acknowledged the significance of the occasion and the difficulty of playing at Forest’s City Ground.
“Forest away has always been tough, especially in this period and especially with an important person in the history and the legacy like Mr Robertson that unfortunately passed away,” he said.
Though Forest sit just five points above the relegation zone, Guardiola warned that the match would be challenging due to Forest’s quality and passionate home crowd. “The team invested a lot in the last years and was promoted in the Premier League and they are a really, really good side,” he added.
Guardiola’s remarks underline his respect for the opposition and confidence in his team’s ability to maintain their high standards during a demanding part of the season.
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