Guardiola Calls for Smaller Squad at Manchester City
Pep Guardiola, the manager of Manchester City, has expressed a desire for a smaller squad for the upcoming season. He mentioned that if the club does not make this change, he might consider stepping down from his position. Guardiola voiced his concerns after a recent match against Bournemouth, where he had to leave several key players out of the 20-man squad.
In the 3-1 victory over Bournemouth on May 20, prominent players like Abdukodir Khusanov, Savinho, James McAtee, Claudio Echeverri, and Rico Lewis did not make it onto the roster. Guardiola revealed that he does not want to leave so many talented players watching from the stands.
He stated, "I told the club that I don’t want a larger squad. I can’t bear the thought of having five or six players not included in the game. If it comes to that, I’ll quit. I prefer a shorter squad and will stick around."
The experienced coach emphasized the emotional difficulty of telling his players they won’t be part of the match, saying, "It’s against my nature to have players sitting in the stands, unable to play."
Guardiola further explained that managing a large group of players can be challenging, especially when many are left out of games. He recalled a tough period when his team struggled with injuries and had difficulty selecting a full lineup. "We had moments when we couldn’t even pick 11 players due to injuries. We need to avoid that next season," he added.
When asked if these comments meant more players might leave the club, Guardiola stated that it was up to the club to decide. He reiterated his preference for not having an oversized squad. "If everyone is fit, I don’t want 24, 25, or 26 players. If injuries happen, we can always call on academy players."
Manchester City is set to play their last Premier League match on May 25 against Fulham.
