Pep Guardiola has warned Manchester City he will step down as manager if the club hands him an oversized squad after the summer transfer window.
The Spaniard, who has guided City through an era of unprecedented success, made it clear he does not want to juggle a bloated roster heading into next season.
His comments came after City’s 3-1 victory over Bournemouth on Tuesday, where several senior and promising players, including Abdukodir Khusanov, Savinho, James McAtee, Claudio Echeverri, and Rico Lewis were left out of the 20-man matchday squad.
Despite the win lifting City to third in the Premier League, Guardiola voiced discomfort with having too many quality options to leave behind.
“I told the club, I don’t want a big squad. I will quit if I have to freeze five or six players every match,” Guardiola said. “It’s impossible for my soul to leave players in the stands.”
City spent over £200 million in January to reinforce the squad during an injury crisis, but with several key names returning and with Kevin De Bruyne confirmed to depart this summer Guardiola stressed he expects the club to reduce the squad size rather than inflate it.
“If I have 24, 25, 26 players when everyone is fit, that’s not sustainable,” he said. “If there are injuries, we can rely on the academy. But I can’t manage that many players and keep the team’s soul intact.”
City officially list 28 first-team players, with four others currently out on loan. Guardiola, who signed a contract extension through 2027, has long been an advocate for leaner squads, entering this season with 20 senior players fewer than many of City’s Premier League rivals.
In a league where clubs like Chelsea, Brighton, and Tottenham list over 29 players each, Guardiola’s stance is stark, for the cohesion he craves, less is more.
