Pep Guardiola has revealed he could quit as Manchester City manager if he is given too big a squad next season, as he does not want to leave too many fit players without game time.
The summer will be a time of rebuilding for City, with several players replacing experienced players following in the footsteps of Kevin De Bruyne, who made his final appearance at home on Tuesday in a 3-1 win over Bournemouth.
After a season in which the team has been plagued by injuries and the demands of the fixture schedule have only increased, achieving optimal squad numbers is proving to be a challenge. However, Guardiola, who has always preferred to work with a smaller group of players, said his main goal remains maintaining the unity of the squad.
“I told the club I don't want a bigger squad,” Guardiola said. “I don't want to leave five or six players out. I don't want that. If that happens, I'll leave. Make the squad smaller and I'll stay.”
“My conscience does not allow me to tell my players that they cannot participate in the game.”
“It is now possible to add new players. Maybe for three or four months we couldn't form a starting 11, we had no defenders, it was very difficult. Then some came back, but that shouldn't happen next season.”
“As a manager I can't manage 24 players and every time I pick a squad I have to leave four, five, six at home in Manchester because they can't play. That can't happen. I've told the club I don't want that.”
Despite the injury problems the team has faced this season, particularly the lengthy absence of Rodri, who returned to action on Tuesday for the first time since September as a second-half substitute, Guardiola has expressed a preference for using academy players to fill out the squad.
Sourse: breakingnews.ie
