Pep Guardiola threatens to quit Man City over squad size concerns

Pep Guardiola has said he would quit as Manchester City manager if given too big a squad next season, as he cannot bear leaving many fit players out.

Although Guardiola signed a new contract with City until 2027 late last year, the former Barcelona boss has now issued a stark warning that he will walk away if forced to manage an overly large squad next term.

He described it as “impossible” for him to cope with having players left out of matchday squads.

On Tuesday, James McAtee, Savinho, and Rico Lewis were excluded from City’s 3-1 Premier League victory over Bournemouth.

Following a strong response to their FA Cup final defeat to Crystal Palace, City are preparing for a summer rebuild.

However, the club now face the delicate task of trimming the squad to meet Guardiola’s demands – or risk losing their manager.

He said after the game: “I said to the club I don’t want that. I don’t want to leave five or six players in the tribune. I don’t want that. I will quit. Make a shorter squad, I will stay. It’s impossible for my soul to give [leave] my players in the tribune, that they cannot play.

“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. [We] cannot sustain for the emotion of the club, the soul of the team, create another connection with each other that this season we lost it a bit.”

Despite the injury problems this season, most notably the long-term absence of Rodri, who made his first appearance since September as a second-half substitute on Tuesday night, Guardiola said he would prefer to fill the squad with academy players.

“If I have injuries, unlucky, we have some players for the academy and we do it,” he added.

“[We] cannot sustain for the emotion of the club, the soul of the team, [to] create another connection with each other that this season we lost it a bit.”