Manchester City players will need to adhere to new coach Pep Guardiola’s strict fitness demands if they are to work their way into his first team plans this season.
The Catalan tactician, who replaced Manuel Pellegrini at the Etihad Stadium this summer, is known for whipping his sides into top condition in order to play his energetic brand of football, and has already issued an ultimatum to members of his newly inherited squad.
The Citizens are currently in China preparing for the new season, and left-back Gael Clichy has revealed that they have been told in no uncertain terms that unfit players will not be allowed to train with the rest of the squad.
“On the field, outside the field, every detail counts,” he told reporters. “For example, you often hear managers say being healthy is really important. With him, if you’re weight is too high, you’re not training with the team.
“That’s the first thing and you can hear it a lot, but for my part it’s the first time any manager has really done it. So we have a few players who aren’t training with the team yet.
“We play football. It’s a job, and you have to take responsibility for what you do on the field.”
Among the list of banned items for players are pizza and certain types of juice, but the French full-back insisted such measures are necessary if the Manchester-based club are to compete at home and in Europe this coming campaign.
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“He’s cut out some juice and, of course, pizza,” the 31-year-old added. “And all the heavy food is not allowed.
“Some people think, ‘That’s normal. It should be like this’ 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.”
City take on Borussia Dortmund in a pre-season friendly on Thursday after Monday’s clash with rivals Manchester United was called off due to bad weather.
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