In the high-stakes world of Premier League football, where squad depth can make or break a season, Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has sent shockwaves through the Etihad Stadium with a bold declaration about his team’s future. Speaking ahead of the FIFA Club World Cup in Atlanta on June 21, 2025, the Catalan tactician expressed frustration with his bloated squad, hinting at a significant clearout in the upcoming transfer window. “I have too many players,” Guardiola admitted, a statement that underscores his preference for a lean, tightly knit unit over a sprawling roster. With a 27-man squad currently in the United States, including recent signings like Rayan Cherki, Rayan Aït-Nouri, Tijjani Reijnders, and Marcus Bettinelli, Guardiola’s comments signal a seismic shift for the Citizens as they aim to reclaim their dominance after a trophyless 2024-25 season.
Guardiola’s remarks came in the wake of a challenging campaign, City’s first without a major trophy since 2017. Despite finishing third in the Premier League with 71 points and securing Champions League qualification, the season was marred by injuries and inconsistent performances. Key players like Rodri, sidelined by an ACL injury, and Phil Foden, hampered by an ankle issue, struggled to maintain their usual brilliance. Erling Haaland, with 24 goal contributions, remained a bright spot, but the team’s collective spark—once a hallmark of Guardiola’s reign—faded, with only 72 goals scored compared to 96 the previous year. “I would love to have the players we have now all season,” Guardiola said, but added, “The problem is they will be unhappy during the season, they will be sad, they will be disappointed. I don’t want that. I do it for them, not for me.” His words reflect a deep concern for player morale, a factor he believes eroded the “vibes” that fueled City’s six Premier League titles in seven years.
The squad’s size, currently over 30 players, has forced Guardiola to make tough calls, leaving talents like Abdukodir Khusanov, Savinho, James McAtee, Claudio Echeverri, and Rico Lewis out of recent matchday squads, including a 3-1 win over Bournemouth. “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,” he declared. “This is not going to happen. I said to the club, I don’t want that.” Historically, Guardiola has thrived with smaller squads—averaging 22.3 players with significant minutes across his career—but injuries to Rodri, John Stones, Nathan Aké, and others forced City to use 32 players this season, a stark contrast to his ideal of 20-21 senior players.
The January transfer window saw City spend over £200 million on Khusanov, Omar Marmoush, Nico Gonzalez, and Vitor Reis, with Echeverri joining from River Plate. Summer additions included Reijnders from AC Milan and Cherki from Lyon, but the influx has left Guardiola with a surplus, particularly in defense and on the wings. With seven centre-backs, including stalwarts Rúben Dias and Josko Gvardiol, and a crowded winger pool featuring Bernardo Silva, Marmoush, Jack Grealish, Jeremy Doku, and others, departures seem inevitable. Kevin De Bruyne, whose contract expires in 2025, is confirmed to leave, with Napoli and San Diego FC rumored destinations. Ilkay Gundogan, linked to Galatasaray, and Grealish, who started just seven Premier League games, face uncertain futures. “It is a question for the club,” Guardiola said when pressed on exits, deferring to City’s recruitment team led by Txiki Begiristain and Hugo Viana.
Guardiola’s vision for a smaller squad aligns with his philosophy of quality over quantity, a strategy that underpinned City’s 2017 rebuild, when 12 players, including Samir Nasri and Wilfried Bony, were sold to make way for Ederson, Kyle Walker, and Bernardo Silva. “I don’t want players at home with their families when the team is playing,” he emphasized, highlighting his aversion to leaving players “in the freezer.” Potential exits include veterans like John Stones, Mateo Kovacic, and Ederson, with Saudi Pro League interest swirling, while Kyle Walker’s loan to AC Milan may become permanent. Youngster Vitor Reis could be loaned out, and Kalvin Phillips’ City career appears over.
As City compete in the Club World Cup, starting with a win over Wydad AC and facing Al Ain next, Guardiola remains focused on silverware. “It’s a privilege to be here,” he said, praising the tournament’s prestige. Yet, his mind is already on the summer, where three to four new signings—likely a midfielder and full-back—are expected, contingent on trimming the squad. Chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak has vowed a return to City’s “normal standards,” but Guardiola’s insistence on a leaner roster suggests tough decisions loom. For a manager who revolutionized football with his possession-based, high-pressing style, this rebuild could be his greatest challenge yet, balancing player egos, club ambitions, and his own uncompromising vision.
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