New Delhi: Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola, after guiding his team to a crucial 3-1 triumph over Bournemouth, issued a stern warning that he could leave the club if handed a large squad after the summer transfer window. The victory brought the Citizens closer to sealing a Champions League spot.
If City manage to secure just a point against Fulham in their final game of the season, it will be enough to guarantee them a place in next season’s Champions League. While Guardiola was pleased with the result, he expressed frustration over having to leave several players out of the squad.
The players excluded from Tuesday’s 20-man squad included Abdukodir Khusanov, Savinho, James McAtee, Claudio Echeverri, and Rico Lewis. With so many options available, the Spaniard wants a smaller, more manageable squad for the next season. He signed a contract extension this season that runs until 2027.
In the post-match press conference, Guardiola said, “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.”
Guardiola said it’s ‘impossible for him’ to leave so many players out and then see them watching the action from the stands. He recalled a few months ago when the team was struggling to select eleven fit players due to a lack of defenders and emphasised that now, with players available, he doesn’t want the situation to flip the other way.
The 54-year-old added, “As a manager, I cannot train 24 players and every time I select, I have to leave four, five, or six in Manchester at home because they cannot play. This is not going to happen. I said to the club, I don’t want that.”
When Guardiola was asked does it mean that there will be more exits he replied, “It is a question for the club. I don’t want to have 24, 25, 26 players when everyone is fit. If I have injuries, unlucky, we have some players for the academy, and we do it.”
🚨 Pep Guardiola: “I don’t want to have 24, 25, 26 players when everyone is fit. I told the club I don’t want that”.
“If I have injuries, unlucky! We will have some players from the Academy and we will do it”. pic.twitter.com/8k7NtVtlQc
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) May 21, 2025
City’s January transfer window spending
Manchester City spent around £200 million during the January transfer window on four players- Khusanov, Omar Marmoush, Nico Gonzalez, and Vitor Reis while also securing Claudio Echeverri on loan from Real Betis. So far, only Kevin De Bruyne is confirmed to leave at the end of the season, while the future of Jack Grealish remains uncertain.
Pep Guardiola warns Man City he will quit if squad isn’t reduced, unhappy about leaving stars out. The Spaniard wants a smaller squad for next season. Football Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
