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WafricNews – May 21, 2025

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has delivered a clear message to the club’s hierarchy: reduce the squad size or risk losing him.

Following City's 3-1 win over Bournemouth, Guardiola expressed frustration over the size of his squad, revealing that he’s no longer willing to manage a group where several senior players are consistently left out on matchdays.

Despite the Premier League win, Guardiola left out Abdukodir Khusanov, Savinho, James McAtee, Claudio Echeverri, and Rico Lewis from Tuesday’s 20-man squad—players he acknowledges are good enough but simply didn’t fit due to the numbers.

"I told the club I don't want a big squad," the 54-year-old Spaniard stated bluntly. "I don’t want to leave five or six players in the freezer. If it continues, I will quit. Keep the squad smaller, and I will stay."

Guardiola, who signed a contract extension until 2027, emphasized that managing a large group isn’t just difficult—it’s emotionally draining.

"It’s impossible for my soul," he said. "When we had injuries for three or four months, we couldn’t even select 11 players. Now players are back, but next season it can’t be like this. I can’t manage 24 players and leave several at home every week."

City's winter transfer activity added to the congestion, with over £200 million spent in January alone. As the squad gets healthier, Guardiola says the pressure to exclude top-tier talent each week is unsustainable.

Kevin De Bruyne is expected to leave this summer, and Jack Grealish’s future remains uncertain. When asked if more exits were expected, Guardiola responded, “That’s for the club to decide. But I don’t want 24, 25, or 26 players when everyone is fit. If we have injuries, we can bring in academy players."

He also made it clear that the emotional cohesion within the squad is at risk with a bloated roster. “It affects the soul of the team. We’ve lost a bit of that connection this season.”

While Premier League rules allow a 25-man squad plus unlimited under-21 players, Man City currently lists 28 first-team players, excluding those out on loan.

For context, Chelsea has 31 listed in their first team, Brighton and Spurs each have 29, while Wolves carry 30. In contrast, City rivals Arsenal have a leaner 24-man group, while Liverpool, Aston Villa, Everton, and Nottingham Forest all list 25 players.

Guardiola has consistently favoured a leaner squad model, starting the 2023/24 season with just 20 senior players. But with mounting pressure, squad depth, and the expectations of European football, the coach has drawn a line in the sand: fewer players, or a new era without him.


By WafricNews Sport Desk.

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