Pep Guardiola has expressed that he will quit Manchester City if he is given a big squad after the summer transfer window.
While most of the coaches would like to have the luxury of a big squad to choose from as per the need, the Spaniard does not see sustainability in it.
Pep Guardiola’s Minimalistic Approach
A number of Man City’s players including Abdukodir Khusanov, Savinho, James McAtee, Claudio Echeverri and Rico Lewis did not get a minute during Tuesday’s 3-1 win against Bournemouth and Guardiola says he is unhappy at leaving so many players out.
He said: “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.”
Guardiola says it is “impossible for my soul” to leave players watching from the stands.
“Maybe [for] three, four months we couldn’t select 11 players, we didn’t have defenders, it was so difficult. After people come back but next season it cannot be like that,” the 54-year-old added.
“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.”
Manchester City is expected to release a number of aging players. Kevin de Bruyne has already confirmed his exit from the Etihad and the future of some of its players such as Jack Grealish in the club is doubtful.
When asked if it meant more exits were on the cards, Guardiola said: “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.
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Guardiola signed a deal extending his contract at the Etihad keeping him at the club until 2027. While City had enjoyed enormous success under him in the last few years, the 2024-25 season unexpectedly had been underwhelming.
They finished third on the Premier League points table this season and have narrowly qualified for the next UEFA Champions League. The 54-year-old surely wants to make amendments from the lessons learnt this year.
