As Manchester City gears up for the 2025-26 Premier League season, manager Pep Guardiola has issued a passionate plea for a leaner squad, emphasizing that the current roster of 31 players is unsustainable for team cohesion and player morale. Speaking ahead of a friendly match against Palermo on August 9, 2025, Guardiola expressed frustration with the club’s bloated squad, a sentiment he has voiced repeatedly since May. His candid remarks, including a pointed comment about not wanting certain players to “stay at home every weekend,” highlight his determination to streamline the team to maintain the “soul” of the squad. Despite recent signings, Guardiola’s vision for a tighter, more connected unit remains a priority as City aims to rebound from a trophyless 2024-25 campaign.
Guardiola’s concerns stem from a summer transfer window that saw Manchester City add five new players—James Trafford, Marcus Bettinelli, Rayan Ait-Nouri, Tijjani Reijnders, and Rayan Cherki—while only Kevin De Bruyne is confirmed to depart. This has left City with a first-team squad significantly larger than the 20 outfield players and three goalkeepers Guardiola prefers. “We need a little bit fewer players. I don’t like having lots of players. Many players should leave,” Guardiola said, underscoring his discomfort with leaving players out of matchday squads. For the Palermo friendly, he named just 22 players, notably excluding Jack Grealish, James McAtee, and Stefan Ortega, signaling that they may not be part of his long-term plans.
The manager’s frustration is not new. After a 3-1 victory over Bournemouth in May 2025, Guardiola threatened to resign if the squad wasn’t trimmed, stating, “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.” His philosophy hinges on fostering a tight-knit group where every player feels involved, a model that has fueled City’s past successes, including four consecutive Premier League titles from 2020 to 2023. This season, however, injuries to key players like Rodri, who suffered a “big injury” at the Club World Cup and won’t be fully fit until after the September international break, forced City to rely on a deeper squad. “We’ve got some niggles, players coming back with some injuries,” Guardiola noted, acknowledging the challenges of preparing for early matches against Wolves, Spurs, and Brighton.
The current squad size, listed at 28 first-team members plus four on loan, contrasts sharply with rivals like Chelsea (31 players) and Tottenham (29 players). Guardiola’s ideal squad of around 23 players allows for versatility, with players like Bernardo Silva and Phil Foden capable of multiple roles. Young talents like Claudio Echeverri, who debuted in the FA Cup final, and Oscar Bobb, recovering from a fractured leg, are likely to stay, while others, like Vitor Reis, who was loaned to Girona, face uncertain futures. “I love Vitor a lot and he has an incredible future, but I don’t want him staying at home every weekend,” Guardiola said, emphasizing his desire for young players to gain experience rather than languish on the bench.
The addition of James Trafford as competition for Ederson has further complicated matters, pushing Stefan Ortega to the fringes. Ortega, seeking regular minutes to boost his World Cup hopes with Germany, may depart, while Grealish’s limited starts and McAtee’s cameo-heavy role last season have fueled speculation about their exits. “It’s not only Jack. There is not one player in my locker room that is happy when they do not play,” Guardiola admitted, recognizing the emotional toll of his selections. With new sporting director Hugo Viana navigating the transfer market, City faces pressure to offload players before the window closes to meet UEFA’s registration rules and Guardiola’s demands.
As City prepares for a challenging season, Guardiola’s call for a smaller squad reflects his belief in quality over quantity. The departure of Txiki Begiristain and the transition to Viana add another layer of complexity, but Guardiola’s vision remains clear: a cohesive team where every player has a role. “It’s impossible for my soul to tell my players in the stands that they cannot play,” he said, a poignant reminder of the human element driving his philosophy. With the Premier League opener against Wolves looming, City’s ability to trim the squad will shape not only their season but also Guardiola’s future at the Etihad.
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