Manchester City manager, Pep Guardiola, has hinted that the upcoming summer could see a significant reshuffling of his squad. This comes after a season that has been less than satisfactory by the club's high standards.
Manchester City have had a challenging campaign this year. They have fallen significantly behind in the Premier League title race and were eliminated from the Champions League before reaching the last-16 stage. Injuries have played a major role in their decline this season. Key players such as John Stones, Nathan Ake, Manuel Akanji, Ruben Dias, Kevin De Bruyne, Jack Grealish, Jeremy Doku and Mateo Kovacic have all experienced either lengthy absences or multiple periods out of action due to injuries.
Guardiola acknowledged that time might be catching up with some members of his squad. The team has enjoyed continuous success over recent years – winning four consecutive Premier League titles and achieving a treble in 2023 – but it appears that now may be time for change.
Need for refreshment
Guardiola believes that given the demands of modern football schedules necessitate regular refreshment within squads to maintain performance levels. This is particularly relevant considering long-term injuries to key players like Rodri and others who are currently out of action.
Pep Guardiola, Manchester City manager, said:
“That is the reality, we have to sit down with the doctors, with the physios, with the players, with the agents and be clear that some of them cannot sustain, every month or two months, playing every three, four days.
“There’s one more year, then a World Cup. We have already a lot of players that cannot sustain what we have done in the past – week-in, week-out playing in different competitions, travel. The quality is there but the quality we can abuse because players can be injured for a long time.
“Listen, we deserve to have a bad season. It’s not good but it can happen. But the reality is that for the future, if we want to be there (challenging) again, you have to have players fit and available. It’s so demanding. The teams are quicker and faster, stronger and many things and we cannot handle it right now. This is the reality, sorry.”
The injury woes continued with an early exit from their Champions League match against Real Madrid due to injury concerns for one player who may miss most of what remains of this season along with fellow centre-back Akanji who was injured last week.
Uncertain future for key players
Kevin De Bruyne's future at Manchester City seems uncertain as well. After being sidelined for two months during autumn due to an injury he struggled to regain his form upon return. His absence from field play during their game at Bernabeu Stadium was confirmed by Guardiola to be a tactical decision, not an injury-related one.
At 33 and with his contract ending this summer, it seems that the career of the Belgian playmaker – who is considered one of Manchester City's greatest players – could be winding down.
Guardiola's comments suggest that fans should brace themselves for significant changes in the Manchester City squad this summer. While injuries have played a part in their recent struggles, it appears that time and the demanding football calendar are prompting a much-needed refreshment within the team. As we look forward to what promises to be an eventful transfer window, all eyes will be on how Guardiola reshapes his squad for future challenges.
