Guardiola Says: “Reduce Squad Size or I’m Leaving”

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has given a firm warning about the size of his squad. The Spanish coach says he won’t accept having too many players next season. If the club doesn’t reduce the squad, he might walk away.

Squad Size Issue

After City‘s 3-1 win over Bournemouth, Guardiola spoke about having too many players. “I don’t want to have 24, 25, 26 players when everyone is fit,” he said. He prefers to use academy players if there are injuries instead of having a large squad.

This comes at a key time for City. They are close to qualifying for the Champions League after a tough season. The club currently has 28 players listed on their website and four more out on loan. This is more than Guardiola’s ideal number of 20 senior players.

The Bigger Picture

Guardiola’s warning is a big moment at City. The team will finish without a trophy for the first time since 2017. Guardiola signed a new contract until 2027, but he now seems willing to leave if the squad isn’t reduced.

The problem has grown after City spent over £200 million in January. They signed new players like Omar Marmoush and Nico Gonzalez. These signings were made because of poor results and injuries that ended their title hopes by Christmas.

City’s squad size clashes with Guardiola’s views. He has had to make tough choices, like leaving some players out of recent squads. He did the same for Saturday’s FA Cup final loss to Crystal Palace.

What’s Next for City?

The summer transfer window will be important as the club tries to meet Guardiola’s demands. One major exit has already been confirmed, with Kevin De Bruyne set to leave after ten years. Kyle Walker is also expected to depart, freeing up squad space.

However, selling players is hard because City’s players earn high wages. The club must find a balance between a smaller squad and remaining strong in multiple competitions.

Guardiola’s strong feelings were clear when he said: “I don’t want to leave five or six players out. I don’t want that. I will quit. Make a shorter squad, and I will stay. It’s impossible for my soul to leave my players unable to play.”