PEP GUARDIOLA has vowed to leave Manchester City if they do not trim their squad this summer.
Going into next month's revamped Club World Cup, City have endured their first trophyless season since 2016-17, Guardiola's first at the Etihad.
Last night the Etihad Stadium said a fond farewell to club legend Kevin De Bruyne as the Belgian played his last home game for City.
Guardiola has admitted that he wants more exits to follow this summer as he prefers to work with a more streamlined squad.
Following last night's 3-1 win over Bournemouth, the 54-year-old admitted: "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.
"It's impossible for my soul to [tell] my players in the tribune [stands] that they cannot play."
Having all arrived at City in the last 12 months, Savinho, Abdukodir Khusanov, Claudio Echeverri and Vitor Reis all failed to make last night's matchday squad.
Highly thought of academy products Rico Lewis and James McAtee also missed out.
Man City's official website lists 28 first team players, in addition to Kyle Walker, Kalvin Phillips, Joshua Wilson-Esbrand and Maximo Perrone out on loan.
On City's bloated squad, Guardiola added: "Maybe [for] three, four months we couldn't select 11 players, we didn't have defenders, it was so difficult. After, people came back, but next season it cannot be like that.
"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.
"This is not going to happen. I said to the club, I don't want that."
Guardiola signed a contract extension to 2027 last November.
City have been boosted by recent returns for long-term absentees Rodri and Oscar Bobb.
By way of comparison, Manchester United's squad also lists 28 players, Chelsea's 31 and Liverpool's just 24.
Nine members of Guardiola's first team squad are in their 30s; Ederson, Stefan Ortega, Scott Carson, Nathan Ake, John Stones, De Bruyne, Ilkay Gundogan, Mateo Kovacic and Bernardo Silva.
Jack Grealish and Manuel Akanji, meanwhile, will turn 30 in the next few months.
City have spent around £200million on transfers this season, and can be expected to splash out more this summer.
Last year's Prem champions have been linked with Lyon starlet Rayan Cherki, but have reportedly pulled out of the race to sign Bayer Leverkusen star Florian Wirtz.
podadilryz
0
the biggest mistake Pep did was to buy Greash for 100 millions and let Palmer to go from the city. he should now know that Halaand without scoring means having 10 players on the pitch. one thing I hate from Pep is he doesn't know how to buy good players as well as he can't think quick enough when his team is not performing but substituting at the right time, he would either replace in the 85 minutes or not do at all. he can not sense the danger and react accordingly. why didn't he play right squad when playing against Southampton when he really needed 3 points. mancity may not qualify for CL as Fulham at home , mancity can not beat them nor will get a draw
podadilryz
0
Guadiola his EGO is bigger than the world, minimum top club like mancity required at least best equal players of 25 in the squad for number of matches club expected to play in one season. Goalkeepers 3 defenders 8 to 10 midfielders 6 wingers and center forward 6 the above have to be equal good, yet club may have problems towards the end such as injuries and cards.
Boller
1
Quiting in mutual consent will be our pleasure, you sign players you can't use and make them lose form because of bench warming. why sign them when you know that they'll never play? can you quit now now your prime days are over Sir as everything under the sun has an expiry date
cukelrty
0
what's wrong this bald head...sometimes he complain for not having bog squad as they have to play so many games and sometimes he complain for having big squad..though I'm city fan but really annoyed with his failure..
citizens722
0
Pep don’t like being identify with failure all this ranting is just excuses for failing to win a trophy this season he had done enough they should let him go and if truly he wants some players to go he should tell the following to go along with Debruyn; kovacic, Rodri, foden, Ake, Ederson, Gandogan, Bernardo, and probably Doku and let’s see if his next season won’t be worse than this
one season we don't win anything and look at you clown🤣🤣
Technical1
2
Yes I support this idea, instead of keeping them he realized that it’s not fair like that , therefore he has to minimize his squad let them go elsewhere for playing time… 23 to 21 players enough for us. 👌🏾
December10
0
Pep, all those players u are talking about were brought by U on the club why now?
rabdoprz
0
Mr pep want to run please allow him to go
Mcnaughtly
0
Pep don’t like being identify with failure all this ranting is just excuses for failing to win a trophy this season he had done enough they should let him go and if truly he wants some players to go he should tell the following to go along with Debruyn; kovacic, Rodri, foden, Ake, Ederson, Gandogan, Bernardo, and probably Doku and let’s see if his next season won’t be worse than this
Rodri??? Doku?? I disagree about these two, Sell the rest I agree
Herdural
2
Pep don’t like being identify with failure all this ranting is just excuses for failing to win a trophy this season he had done enough they should let him go and if truly he wants some players to go he should tell the following to go along with Debruyn; kovacic, Rodri, foden, Ake, Ederson, Gandogan, Bernardo, and probably Doku and let’s see if his next season won’t be worse than this
Zasbeknot
2
I think it's a good idea for pep to leave Ethihad coz he did a lot for the club maybe he should now rest atleast🇺🇬
losdkoprty
0
who should trim it for u ...
KingCarrot
0
Pep should then stop buying new players and use the existing ones
Kuebelotz
0
Pep Guardiola you are going nowhere , you with stay with the club . When you were winning and dancing , these players were on the club team . These were the same players you been using .
fataiomo
5
Yea give him 16 players who will not get injured and play at the highest level without fatigue and still won't complain about tight schedule for the next 3 seasons
podadilryz
0
He is brain less, to have many good players creates competition within players in order to get number to play. Also to have many players means club will always have players even during injuries, cards etc, also too many games in a season 38 EPL, Carbalo, FA cup, CL and national games, all these games good club needs many good players over 25 . Take example of real madrid or even mancity itself, how many got injured and suffered
Neadenpstu
1
good job he isn't in charge of Chelsea then
ndabawubafo
0
Gaurdiola fail to understand you can be on top forever
HannaanBumbooze
0
da fuck this bald bastard saying? he was crying injury and that he doesn't have enough players when players were out and now he's saying he prefers small squad? i always loved pep but this is pathetic he can't even talk to his own player in the locker room and what's his excuse? too many players? He should take responsibility rather than acting like an amateur