“If Not, I Will Quit”—Pep Guardiola Makes Demands To Manchester City Owners And Threatens To Quit If Not Met

Pep Guardiola has made it clear to Manchester City board of directors that he wants a smaller squad next season. If the club keeps giving him a big group of players to choose from, he says he will quit.

This season, Guardiola has had a tough time managing a large squad. Many players have been left out of the team and have spent a lot of time on the bench or even at home. Recently, some important players like Mateo Kovacic, Rodri, and Nathan Ake returned from injury, which meant Guardiola had to leave out younger players like Rico Lewis and James McAtee for two games in a row, including the game after the FA Cup final.

Also, academy players Savinho and Claudio Echeverri, who played in the cup final, were left out of the squad for the match against Bournemouth. Guardiola said he spent 45 minutes deciding which players to leave out because choosing is becoming so hard for him.

He told the club, “I don’t want a bigger squad. I don’t want to leave five or six players frozen out, not playing. I will quit if that happens.” For Guardiola, it’s not just about picking a team — it’s about the feeling inside the group. “It’s hard for me to leave players sitting in the stands and not playing.”

This season, City had many injuries, especially in defence. For several months, Guardiola said it was hard to pick a full team because so many players were injured. But he believes next season should be different. “Next season, we cannot have so many injuries and problems like this.”

His main problem is having too many players when everyone is fit. “I cannot train 24 players and then leave four, five, or six of them at home because they cannot play. That will not work for me.”

When asked if some players will have to leave the club this summer, Guardiola said, “That is a question for the club.” But he made it clear he wants fewer players fighting for places. “I don’t want 24 or 25 players when everyone is healthy. If some get injured, that is unlucky, but we have young players from the academy to help.”

Guardiola also explained that having too many players can hurt the team’s spirit. “When players don’t play and stay home week after week, it breaks the feeling and connection between players. A player needs to be here to fight for a place and be part of the team.”

About Echeverri, Guardiola said the young player is good in tight spaces and in teams that defend deep, like Southampton or Crystal Palace. But Bournemouth plays a faster, more attacking style, so Echeverri isn’t ready for that kind of game yet.

Guardiola’s problem is finding the right balance — enough players to cover injuries, but not too many that others are left out and lose motivation. “Yesterday, I spent more than 45 minutes talking with six players who were left at home. I don’t like that.”