Manchester City’s Pep Guardiola has delivered a final ‘let it go’ warning. The manager revealed on Monday that he is worried about there being too few players in his squad for next season. He stated that if the team does not reduce the number of players, he may consider resigning from his position. Guardiola said this as Manchester City currently has 28 full-time professionals on their roster. On top of that, four other players are out on loan.
That particular manager went on to express other concerns about managing such a hefty squad. He lamented that keeping so many players off matchday rosters is “very, very difficult for my soul.” He seems to have a definite preference for a smaller pool of no more than 20 senior players. He thinks that this is key to ensuring the team stays motivated and cohesive.
That’s how tired Guardiola might be by all of this, given on the receiving end of these last season. He fought for months to choose an entire starting full because of a shortage of defenders. On the injury front, he continued to downplay it, acknowledging that some key players did eventually return. He doesn’t want to go through that kind of strife again this season.
“I said to the club I don’t want that [a bigger squad]. I don’t want to leave five or six players in the freezer. I don’t want that. I will quit. Make a shorter squad, I will stay.” – Pep Guardiola
The manager’s preference echoes what the vast majority of other clubs in the league are doing. Teams such as Arsenal and Liverpool regularly operate with smaller squads than the one Manchester City currently have at their disposal. Guardiola highlighted that it is difficult for him to manage a group of 24 to 26 players. He joked that this size usually leads to half the roster stuck on the bench during games.
He further elaborated on the difficulties faced during the previous season, stating, “Maybe [for] three, four months we couldn’t select 11 players, we didn’t have defenders, it was so difficult. After, people came back, but next season it cannot be like that.”
As Pep Guardiola looks to defend his treble-winning 2022-23 squad in 2023-24, he hasn’t wavered on this belief. On the follow-up question, he admitted that injuries are an eternal reality. Rather than keep a large, overstuffed first-team squad, he likes to draw upon the club’s youth academy graduates.
“As a manager I cannot train 24 players and every time I select I have to have four, five, six stay in Manchester at home because they cannot play. This is not going to happen. I said to the club, I don’t want that.” – Pep Guardiola
It’s going to be a loaded and fascinating summer for Manchester City. With Kevin De Bruyne officially leaving, what does the future hold for Jack Grealish? In fact, Grealish hasn’t started a Premier League match since April 2. His absence has led to wild speculation as to whether the 29-year-old has a future in Guardiola’s plans.
Despite signing a contract that extends through 2027, Guardiola’s commitment to Manchester City hinges on the club’s willingness to accommodate his vision for a more streamlined squad. With significant investment in new players totaling over £200 million in January, Guardiola’s call for a smaller roster may challenge the club’s current approach to player management.
“It is a question for the club. I don’t want to have 24, 25, 26 players when everyone is fit. If I have injuries, unlucky, we have some players for the academy and we do it.” – Pep Guardiola
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