Manchester City offer feast of entertainment with Pep Guardiola’s new lease of life

“They can eat but I want to control them," Guardiola said before sending them home to their families while he ventured to Barcelona for champers and some “top” food.

PRE MATCH PEP: Pep Guardiola, during the Premier League match between Manchester City and West Ham United. Pic: Molly Darlington/Getty Images.

Pep Guardiola delivered the line knowing the exact type of reaction it would receive. Weight has been a sporadic theme of his Manchester City reign, the jettisoning of Kalvin Phillips three years ago a reminder of both his unwavering standards and how difficult it is for a player to regain his trust once it’s lost.

So when the Catalan caveated giving his players three days off this week by warning that they must step on the scales before Christmas morning’s training sessions, they knew it was a threat that would be followed through.