Pep Guardiola on Potential Squad Changes as Manchester City’s Next Chapter Begins
Pep Guardiola has addressed the potential for changes to his squad as he continues to lead Manchester City into the next phase of their dominance. After recently signing a two-year extension that will keep him at the club until the summer of 2027, Guardiola is expected to guide a squad rebuild. This comes after an era in which City secured six Premier League titles in seven seasons.
Txiki Begiristain will remain with the club until the end of this season, after which Hugo Viana will join permanently from Sporting. Viana has big shoes to fill, but Guardiola’s extension helps to maintain stability within the club during this transition.
In his first press conference since committing to a new deal, Guardiola spoke candidly about the ageing nature of the current squad. He revealed that there are 12 players over the age of 30 in a squad that has been relatively small by modern standards. However, Guardiola was adamant that age should not be seen as a hindrance, especially if the players prove their worth, citing Real Madrid’s success in the 2021/22 season as an example.
“They have a season when they buy five players, and then seasons like this when you buy one and bring Gundogan back,” Guardiola said. “When everyone is fit, I think I don’t need anyone. I think the squad is exceptional. But we’ve had a lot of problems recently. In modern football, you can’t just bring in seven players for seven players. It’s not the right way. For one, two, or three… Txiki will help us until the last moment, and Hugo will help us after.”
Guardiola pointed to the success of Real Madrid as an example of how age does not necessarily limit a player’s performance. He mentioned the trio of Casemiro, Toni Kroos, and Luka Modric, who were instrumental in Madrid’s league and Champions League triumphs despite being in their 30s.
“It’s not about age,” Guardiola explained. “Players who are 33, 34, 35 can play the whole season and play incredibly well. They have experience—something the young players don’t yet have.”
He continued, emphasizing the importance of balance within the squad: “You cannot have only young players. You need a mix, and we have a mix. We have nine or ten players who are 21, 22—Josko, Erling, Phil, Rico, Oscar, Macca, Jeremy, Savinho… we have a lot of incredible top young players.”
Guardiola stressed that the performance of the players, not their age, would determine their future at the club. “Those who are around 30 are still at the perfect age. What will decide is if we win or lose, if we are at the top or the bottom,” he said. “The club will take decisions on the manager and the players. We have to win for our future, and we have to perform well to stay here.”
Guardiola’s comments highlight the evolving nature of Manchester City’s squad, where experience and youth will need to complement each other to continue their success.
