Pep must clean up Man City

With a squad of up to 32 players, Pep Guardiola was forced to act quickly to rebuild the team ahead of the new season.

It's time for Pep to be ruthless and clean up the personnel at Man City.

When Pep Guardiola decided to extend his contract with Manchester City for another two years until the end of 2024, it was not simply a personal choice. For City, it was a strategic move to ensure stability during a transition period.

For Pep, it is a chance to close his coaching cycle with a complete campaign - with the FIFA Club World Cup seen as the missing prestigious highlight.

"Human Power" and the Consequences of Success

However, the shock elimination in the round of 16 by Al-Hilal in the US not only ended Guardiola's dream in the world arena, but also brought the club back to earth in a brutal way. From the peak of the historic treble just a year ago, Man City now revealed a series of problems: a bloated squad, a confusing playing style and a lack of fighting spirit.

In that context, Pep understood that it was time to act. And to bring the team back to the winning track, he had to be ruthless.

Man City currently have 32 first-team players - an unacceptable number for a manager like Pep, who prefers to work with a group of 23-24 players to maintain tactical and psychological stability. Excess numbers not only complicate management, but also reduce the incentive to compete internally.

When every player thinks he “has a place”, the focus and desire to contribute fades. The problem is, this accumulation of personnel is not accidental.

Success in recent seasons has made Man City constantly shop to thicken the squad, but lack periodic purification. Contracts such as Kalvin Phillips, Mateo Kovacic or Jack Grealish were once highly expected, but after a while, they all became redundant.

And now, as the new season approaches, Pep must deal with that "cumbersome legacy" - no matter how cruel it may be.

The absence of Kyle Walker, Jack Grealish, Kalvin Phillips and James McAtee from the US tour is a clear warning: they are no longer part of the plan. Grealish – once England’s record signing – is now a shadow of his former self. His pace has been lost, his efficiency has been diminished, and most importantly, his mentality has been lacking.

Walker, while still capable of contributing, was loaned out to AC Milan last season and looks set to leave. Kalvin Phillips has never quite lived up to the demands of the Etihad, while McAtee needs to be released to develop in a more suitable environment – ​​Borussia Dortmund, for example, have shown interest.

Man City ended the 2024/25 season empty-handed.

The defeat to Al-Hilal was not only a defeat in terms of score, but also a tactical wake-up call. Man City’s midfield was easily penetrated by counter-attacks - a nightmare at the beginning of the 2024/25 season - again. Ederson continued to have uncertain plays, while Matheus Nunes - who was moved to right-back - was completely “out of sync”.

When Pep was forced to patch up his squad with unsolicited options, he understood that the team lacked structure. And that structure could only be restored by cutting out the excess.

Other names also face uncertain futures: Claudio Echeverri, Nico González, Oscar Bobb - highly-rated young talents but without a clear position. Meanwhile, pillars such as Bernardo Silva, John Stones or Ilkay Gundogan all have only one year left on their contracts and it is unclear whether they will continue to stick with them or not.

If not handled promptly, Man City could face a serious "force leak" from the summer of 2026.

Hugo Viana - the first test for the new GĐTT

It is also a time for Hugo Viana, Man City's new sporting director, to show his ability. His predecessor Txiki Begiristain was renowned for his ability to plan long-term transfers and balance the squad - something Viana will have to continue to maintain.

With the reputation built at Sporting Lisbon, Viana is expected to handle a huge amount of work neatly: from clearing players, negotiating new contracts, to finding suitable recruits.

One name being targeted is Newcastle’s Tino Livramento – a young right-back with great potential, a European Under-21 champion. However, the high price tag and fierce competition will be a major obstacle. But if they want to refresh their defence, Man City will have to spend money – with Ederson and the current defence showing signs of slowing down.

Defeat to Al Hilal sent Manchester City to rock bottom.

The most notable point in this restructuring strategy is that no one is immune. Not even icons like Walker, who scored a great feat in the treble season. Not even Grealish - a name loved both on and off the pitch.

In modern football, loyalty is no longer a shield to protect players from rejection. And Guardiola, once so affectionate, is now forced to be colder than ever.

Pep Guardiola once said: “To keep a team at the top, you don't need too many changes - but those changes have to be the right people, at the right time.”

That time is now. With the new season approaching, and rivals like Arsenal, Liverpool, Real Madrid all looking to strengthen their squads, Man City cannot enter the season with a bloated, directionless squad and a tired style of play.

Pep’s purge is not a sign of decline, but a sign of rebirth. To start a new cycle, one must have the courage to end the old one – no matter how much glory it brings. And if anyone has the guts to do that at the Etihad, it is Pep Guardiola.

Source: https://znews.vn/pep-phai-ra-tay-don-dep-man-city-post1565653.html