Pep Guardiola recently explained why he prefers to manage a smaller squad compared to other top coaches. As of the 2023/24 season, Manchester City has just 20 senior outfield players.
Despite missing some key players early in the season, it hasn't affected City's Premier League performance. In fact, they are the only team with a perfect record after six matches. Guardiola believes in keeping his squad compact and relying on versatile players who can play multiple positions.
Pep said via Mancity.com: "When you have 20 players and six injuries they say you should have bigger squad but what happens when I don’t have injuries? How can I manage that?"
"I can play just 11. If 14 don’t play for a long time I don’t want to be manager. Every new player is a transfer or salary. That’s why you when you recruit you have to look for players can play in two or three positions."
"Bernardo can do that, Phil [Foden], Julian [Alvarez], Oscar Bobb. When people say they want two players for every position, I don't agree with that."
"To be effective, you have to be starting regularly. If I want less games, I will manage teams not in European competitions. It will be long weeks. When you are in a top team in European competitions, we have to accept it. In 12/13 years as a manager, I have lived that all the time."
