Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has warned that he may consider leaving the club if he faces an excessive number of players this summer.

After securing a 3-1 victory over Bournemouth last night, the squad of 20 was missing several key players, including Abdukodir Husanov, Savinj, James McCarty, Claudio Echeverria, and Rick Lewis.

Though the team has a large roster, the Spanish manager has expressed a preference for a more compact squad next season.

“I told the club I’m not interested in having that situation. I won’t accept leaving five or six players out. If a smaller squad is what it takes for me to stay, then let’s do it. It burdens my conscience to tell players they can’t contribute,” Guardiola stated, according to the BBC.

He went on to explain that it becomes challenging to consistently exclude players from matchday selections.

“For a few months, we struggled to field a full team; we were short on defenders, which was incredibly tough. Players eventually returned, but next season shouldn’t be a repeat. It’s impractical for me to manage 24 players while regularly leaving four to six at home in Manchester because they aren’t included in the lineup. That’s simply not feasible. I’ve made my feelings clear to the club,” he added.

In January, City invested over £200 million to recruit Husanov, Omar Marmus, Nick Gonzalez, and Vitor Reyes, while Echeverri joined after a loan spell at River Plate.

Kevin De Bruyne is the only player assured to depart the club this summer, and there are rumors suggesting Jack Grealish might also leave, having last started a Premier League match on April 2nd.

When asked if this implies more departures are on the horizon, Guardiola indicated that such decisions rest with the club.

“I don’t want a roster of 24, 25, or 26 players when all are fit. If injuries arise, we can always call upon some academy talent,” the 54-year-old coach commented.

Guardiola emphasized that managing a large squad is untenable, highlighting the need for players to reforge the bonds they’ve somewhat lost this season for the benefit of team morale.

Premier League regulations allow clubs to name 25 players in their squads, but not all can take to the field. Manchester City’s website lists 28 first-team players, while four are currently on loan.

Guardiola opened the 2023/2024 season with 20 senior players.

For comparison, Chelsea lists 31 players in their first team, along with 21 players out on loan. Brighton and Tottenham each have 29, while Wolverhampton has 30 players.

In contrast, clubs with more compact rosters include Arsenal with 24 players and Liverpool, Aston Villa, Everton, and Nottingham Forest each having 25.

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