Africa-Press – Lesotho. Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has told the club he wants to work with a tighter squad next season as it concerns his “soul” to leave so many players in the stands when everyone is fit.
Regular internationals Savinho, Abdukodir Khusanov and Claudio Echeverri were all unable to gain a spot in the team on Tuesday as City beat Bournemouth 3-1.
Rico Lewis and James McAtee of England were also left out. With 28 players in the starting lineup (not including four on loan), City has one of the most valuable teams in the world; according to some media estimations, its total value exceeds 1.3 billion euros ($1.47 billion).
“I said to the club… I don’t want to leave five or six players in the freezer,” Guardiola told reporters after City moved up to third with one match left in the campaign.
“I don’t want that. I will quit. Make a shorter squad, I will stay.”
Omar Marmoush, Vitor Reis, Khusanov, and Nico Gonzalez were brought in during the January transfer window at a cost of over $224 million to help address City’s injury crisis, which occurred late last year when the team went on a five-match losing streak in all competitions between October and November.
However, with defenders John Stones and Nathan Ake the only two players currently sidelined due to injury, Guardiola claimed it was “impossible” for his “soul” to keep informing so many players that they would be spectators.
“It is a question for the club. I don’t want to have 24, 25, 26 players when everyone is fit.
” If I have injuries, unlucky, we have some players (from) the academy and we do it,” the manager added.
Next month, City will defend their Club World Cup title under Guardiola, who in November extended his contract with the team until 2027.
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