Manchester City

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola bans overweight players from training

By Danielle Joynson, Staff Reporter | 27 July 2016

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola says that 'danger's coming' for his overweight players amid claims that he will ban them from training.

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has claimed that 'danger's coming' for footballers who are overweight amid claims that players will be banned from training if they are not fit enough.

Left-back Gael Clichy has revealed that the team's new boss has prohibited the squad from eating junk food, and some players have not been allowed to train with their teammates because they are not at the correct weight.

The 31-year-old described the strict regime, which Guardiola implemented at Barcelona and Bayern Munich, as "refreshing".

"If your weight is too high, you're not training with the team," Clichy told reporters. "You hear it a lot but, for my part, it's the first time any manager has really done it, and we have a few players who are not training with the team yet.

"He cut out some juice and, of course, pizza and all the heavy food is not allowed. Some people think that's normal but, in truth, it's not always like this. I know because I've been playing football for a long time. It's really refreshing and very exciting."

When asked about the ban in today's press conference, the manager told reporters: "They are not overweight, but I want my players fit. The weight is so, so important. You need to run, fight, jump, head the ball and then after two days you need to do it again.

"After three days you have to do it again, then another three days you need to do it again. When you are not fit, danger is coming. You are not fast enough or quick enough in the head. That is why you need to be fit."

Meanwhile, the club are reportedly closing in on the signings of Leroy Sane and Gabriel Jesus, costing a combined total of around £60m.