Pep Guardiola has blamed the global football schedule for his team’s alarming struggles and has told his bosses he will need a bigger squad to cope with demands.
On a day when Manchester City announced a record annual revenue of £715million – with a profit of £78million – Guardiola said: “There are more games than ever, we have more injuries than ever. It made me reflect that with this calendar you need a squad of 25-30 players.
“It will be more difficult financially for the club but we are going to play the Club World Cup in summer, three weeks, then start the Premier League again, and maybe we have to have a deeper squad.”
City made a £139million profit on transfers in the last financial year but Guardiola goes into Sunday’s Manchester derby at the Etihad with only THREE defenders available. Manuel Akanji, John Stones and Nathan Ake are all injured, while Rico Lewis is suspended.
Guardiola is also without long-term absentee Rodri nand there are still doubts over the fitness of Mateo Kovacic and Phil Foden. And the City boss said: “When people ask what the problem is, it’s the schedule.
“It’s not the training, not the doctors, not the physios, not the players, not how they eat or how they rest. It’s just one problem: the schedule. This is the truth. Without players, everything is more difficult. When we won the Treble or four in a row, we had one, two or three muscular injuries and were so stable.
“That’s why we could compete and now we cannot. It’s time to survive and stay there and, sooner or later, the players come back. Champions League qualifying will not be easy but if we can be there, I don’t know what will happen in January or February to my team. We always respond well.”
City’s bolstered accounts may give reason to hope for a January of heavy spending. But rather than reinforcements, Guardiola is instead crossing his fingers that his player return to fitness soon.
“What I want is my players back. The complete squad we had at the beginning of the season. My regret is that we don’t we have these and not needing new ones,” the City boss added.
“Massive congratulations on the accounts because the club must be sustainable. That doesn’t mean we have big, big resources to buy whatever we want, especially with how expensive the transfer market is.”
“In our jobs we will always do our best and when the best doesn’t happen you are more uncomfortable than when the situation is going well. As a manager you are in scrutiny for every step of the team.
“But I am fine. I have more thoughts at this moment but what I feel right now is the same as what I’ve said for the last few weeks or month. Nothing has changed. I’m really pleased with the way we’ve played. We just have to keep working and moving forward.”