Guardiola Threatens to Quit Manchester City Over Squad Size Concerns

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has issued a surprising warning to the club. He says he will leave if he has to manage too many players after the summer transfer window.

WHAT HAPPENED?

After Manchester City‘s 3-1 win against Bournemouth, Guardiola was unhappy about leaving out several players. Abdukodir Khusanov, Savinho, James McAtee, Claudio Echeverri, and Rico Lewis did not play as City moved to third in the Premier League. The win means they are close to qualifying for the Champions League. They need just one point in their last game against Fulham to secure their spot.

PEP’S WARNING

Guardiola was clear in his post-match talk about squad size for next 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,” he said. He also found it “impossible for my soul to give my players in the tribune [stands] that they cannot play.” Guardiola has always preferred smaller, flexible squads.

THE BIGGER PICTURE

City seems to be ready for changes this summer, with many senior players expected to leave. Kevin De Bruyne’s farewell signals this shift. Manchester City is currently third in the Premier League and needs one point from their last match against Fulham to secure a Champions League spot. The team has also reached the FA Cup final, showing they are still competitive despite squad issues.

GUARDIOLA’S SQUAD PHILOSOPHY

This is not the first time Guardiola has talked about smaller squads. In September 2023, he said, “I can play just 11. If 14 don’t play for a long time I don’t want to be manager.” He prefers flexible players who can play in many positions. “Bernardo can do that, Phil [Foden], Julian [Alvarez], Oscar Bobb. When people say they want two players for every position, I don’t agree with that,” he said before.

WHAT’S NEXT FOR MANCHESTER CITY?

City will end their Premier League season with a trip to Fulham, where they need just one point for Champions League qualification. The club then faces an important FA Cup final, offering a good end to a challenging season. The summer transfer window will be key as City’s leaders must balance squad rebuilding with Guardiola’s need for a smaller group. With Guardiola’s contract always a focus, how they handle this warning could decide if he extends his time at the club.