Redaction Simon Brett with Freddie Pye
Published on 2024-05-01 11:30:00
Upon his arrival at Manchester City in 2016, Pep Guardiola made it clear to his players that he was not afraid to shake things up. The squad he inherited from Manuel Pellegrini was aging and not fitting his vision for the team, with many players over the age of 30. Guardiola’s open discontent with the squad was made apparent to the players from the beginning.
Former City defender Gael Clichy revealed that Guardiola bluntly told the squad that they were a “team full of fat players” upon his first meeting with the team. The manager made it clear that no player would be guaranteed playing time and those unhappy with his decisions were free to leave. This stern approach to player management has continued throughout Guardiola’s time at the club.
The strategy of allowing players to leave if they are not satisfied has been a consistent theme for Guardiola’s tenure at Manchester City. This approach has been demonstrated with players like Bernardo Silva, who has been welcome to leave if the valuation is met. The upcoming summer transfer window could see more changes to the squad as the club continues to enforce this policy.
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