Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has expressed immense pride in his players' professional response after he issued a stern warning against gaining weight during the Christmas festivities.
Festive Discipline Key to City's Success
The Spanish tactician, who has guided City to six Premier League titles, is known for his high standards. He revealed that his squad was weighed before their short holiday break and given clear instructions not to over-indulge. This came ahead of their crucial early Saturday kick-off away to Nottingham Forest.
Guardiola himself confessed to some seasonal excess, joking about his own weight gain. "I earn four or five kilos more for the amount of food and drinks that I have drunk, so it is really good," he said. However, he had nothing but praise for his team's commitment.
"They have been incredibly disciplined since 10 years ago," Guardiola stated. "Last season for the injuries that we had was a little bit more difficult, but always they behaved unbelievably. All the players I had in the last decade and that is not an exception today. We have a standard as a club."
Title Race and Trophy Ambitions
City head into the match on the back of a comfortable 3-0 pre-Christmas victory over West Ham, a result that kept them within two points of league leaders Arsenal. A win at the City Ground would see Guardiola's side return to the summit before Arsenal play later in the day.
The champions are in formidable form, boasting seven consecutive wins across all competitions. Guardiola acknowledged the tight title race but emphasized his team's strong position in multiple tournaments.
"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. "We are still in the end of December, in the Champions League we are up there, in the Premier League we are up there, we are in the semi-finals of the Carabao Cup, the start of the FA Cup is soon."
He added that the return of some important injured players would further boost their campaign, urging a focus on taking things step by step.
A Fitting Tribute at a Tough Ground
Saturday's match will be emotionally charged as it is the first since the death of Nottingham Forest legend John Robertson was announced on Christmas Day. Robertson, who passed away aged 72, was instrumental in Forest's back-to-back European Cup triumphs in 1979 and 1980.
Guardiola paid his respects, noting the added significance of the fixture. "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, who unfortunately passed away," he said.
Despite Forest sitting just five points above the relegation zone, Guardiola insisted a trip to the City Ground remains a difficult challenge. "It has always been a tough, tough place to go – for the crowd, especially for the quality they have," he explained. "The team invested a lot in the last years and was promoted in the Premier League and they are a really, really good side."
Manchester City will be hoping their famed discipline, both on and off the pitch, will see them navigate this tricky assignment successfully and reclaim top spot in the Premier League.
