Pep Guardiola has warned that Manchester City could start the new season lacking full sharpness, with the club still looking to offload several players before the transfer window closes.
City head into August with an unusually large squad of 31 senior players, but the manager made it clear that he prefers a more streamlined group.
Several departures are already in motion, with Jack Grealish, Stefan Ortega, and James McAtee all left out of the squad travelling to Sicily for Saturday’s friendly against Palermo.
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Everton are reportedly among the clubs keen on Grealish, while Nottingham Forest are leading the chase for McAtee. Ortega is also expected to move on.
Pep Guardiola has warned that Manchester City could start the new season lacking full sharpness, with the club still looking to offload several players before the transfer window closes
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Guardiola admitted that, while City’s squad size offers depth, it is far from ideal for his methods.
“We need a little bit fewer numbers,” he said. “I don’t like having lots of players. A lot of players should leave.
"The transfer window is moving a lot and many things are going to happen.
"We’ll see what happens and how we handle it, we’ll handle it as best as possible.”
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The Catalan boss also hinted that the lack of match action over the summer could affect early-season form.
Rather than packing their pre-season schedule with friendlies, City opted for more rest and extra training sessions following a demanding year that included the Club World Cup.
“The good mood is similar to what we had at the Club World Cup, but maybe we’ve missed some friendlies to prepare better for the first three games against Wolves, Spurs, and Brighton,” Guardiola said.
“We needed rest, so we decided to have more training sessions rather than games.”
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Pep Guardiola wants Man City outcasts like Jack Grealish to leave the club
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Compounding his concerns is the fitness situation of several key players.
Rodri, Phil Foden, and Josko Gvardiol have not travelled to Italy, with none of the trio deemed fully ready for competitive action.
Rodri’s situation is of particular importance. The Ballon d’Or winner suffered a groin injury during City’s Club World Cup defeat to Al Hilal, and while he is back in training, Guardiola stressed the need for caution.
“Rodri is getting better but he had a big injury in the last game against Al Hilal,” he explained.
“He’s trained better in the last few days, and hopefully after the international break is when he will be really fit.
“Hopefully in these early games he can play some minutes, but the important thing is he has no pain.
"We don’t want Rodri coming back injured, we’re trying desperately to avoid that. He’s not ready for 90 minutes.”
Rodri’s influence on City cannot be overstated. The Spanish midfielder has become the heartbeat of Guardiola’s side, and his absence would be felt in both defensive stability and attacking rhythm.
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Pep Guardiola doesn't want to overwork Rodri as Man City prepare for the start of the new Premier League season
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With a challenging start to the Premier League campaign, Guardiola would prefer to have his midfield general fully fit from the outset.
City kick off their season against Wolves next Saturday (5.30pm).