Pep Guardiola has issued a stunning ultimatum to Manchester City, threatening to quit despite the club’s continued on-field success.
If one is looking for the latest on Pep Guardiola, the Manchester City manager has just delivered one of the most unexpected statements of the Premier League season.
After overseeing a convincing 3-1 win against Bournemouth, Guardiola revealed that he may walk away from his role at the Etihad Stadium not because of poor results, but due to the size of his squad.
Despite City’s impressive form and enviable depth, Guardiola’s post-match comments highlighted a serious internal struggle.
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The Catalan coach insists he cannot continue if the club forces him to work with an oversized roster.
“I said to the club I don't want that,” Pep Guardiola said as per BBC.
“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.”
3. Emotional Strain from Player Exclusion
One of the most surprising revelations from Pep Guardiola is the emotional toll he endures when excluding players from his squad.
At a club as elite as Manchester City, competition for places is fierce. But for Guardiola, it is not just about tactics, it is personal. Having several high-caliber players miss out each week weighs heavily on him, making the job emotionally draining and spiritually taxing.
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The process of informing seasoned professionals that they will not even make the bench is something Guardiola admits affects him deeply. He has described the act of leaving players “in the freezer” as unbearable.
Watching them train with dedication all week only to be left out of matchday plans contradicts his principles of unity and mutual respect within the squad.
This type of emotional burden is not something statistics can measure, but it undeniably influences the overall harmony of the team.
When certain players are consistently excluded, morale dips and divisions can emerge. Guardiola clearly understands this dynamic and is unwilling to allow it to continue, even if it means stepping down.
2. Disruption to Squad Chemistry
Another key reason Pep Guardiola is threatening to leave City is his belief that a large squad undermines the team’s chemistry.
According to the 54-year-old, having too many options creates an artificial sense of competition, which can lead to friction rather than fluidity. He’s seen how excess leads to detachment rather than connection among teammates.
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Guardiola argues that the soul of the team depends on shared responsibility and trust, not just depth.
“It is important for the soul of the team,” he said, “that the players create another connection with each other that this season we lost it a bit.”
The manager’s concern is that the inflated squad size disrupts the interpersonal dynamics that foster success. When fewer players are involved, roles become clearer and bonds grow stronger.
Overstuffed squads, on the other hand, breed uncertainty and anxiety, traits that can destabilize even the most talented team. Guardiola believes the squad must shrink if the team is to find its spirit again.
1. Tactical and Logistical Overload
Finally, Pep Guardiola points to a fundamental managerial challenge: the sheer impracticality of training and managing a bloated squad.
In his view, there is no way to maintain high-level performance while constantly rotating 24 or more senior players. Instead of a benefit, the extra numbers have become a tactical hindrance.
The logistical complexity of maintaining form, morale, and balance across such a large squad creates problems in training and preparation.
Guardiola explained, “As a manager, I cannot train 24 players,” revealing the physical limits of effective coaching. Not only is it tough to design sessions that engage everyone, but it also reduces the intensity and quality of those sessions.
On top of that, having multiple players sitting idle for long stretches can lead to restlessness and dips in motivation.
Rather than taking risks on fringe players or blocking academy talent, Guardiola prefers a streamlined squad that allows space for development and improvisation when needed.
His philosophy favors quality and cohesion over quantity, and he has made it clear that without that alignment, he’s prepared to leave.