Pep Guardiola snaps at Jack Grealish question and makes ‘fractures in the dressing room’ claim ...Middle East

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola pointed to ‘fractures’ in the dressing room as a reason why his squad needs trimming.

Speaking after City’s 2-0 win over Fulham that secured third place and Champions League football next season, the Spaniard also declared having a bloated squad is ‘unsustainable’.

“It’s been a nightmare for the last two, three weeks because we have 24, 25 players and we have to keep five, six players at home,” Guardiola told talkSPORT.

“That is unsustainable.

“We have to have a number in the squad, of course. But it cannot be long otherwise they are not motivated, there are fractures in the locker room.

“But we will fix it next season.”

Guardiola also refused to be drawn on Jack Grealish’s future as the £100m recruit was left out of the matchday squad.

The former Aston Villa star has been named in City’s starting line-up just once in 2025, with Jeremy Doku, Phil Foden, Savinho and Omar Marmoush all preferred.

With a World Cup on the horizon next year, talkSPORT understands Grealish is ready to push for a move in the summer as he looks to break into Thomas Tuchel’s England squad.

The City boss didn’t take too kindly to further questions about Grealish’s future when pressed during his post-match press conference.

Guardiola said: “Don’t ask me about Jack. Who said I’m not happy with Jack? Rico [Lewis] was not selected, [James] McAtee was exceptional against Aston Villa and Wolves – why not ask me about McAtee? It’s not personal.

“I have 24 players, I had to get rid of six players last game and five players today because [Mateo] Kovacic got sent off.

“I treat Jack like I think of [Abdukodir] Khusanov, McAtee and all the players who have not been but you say I’m selecting we are in trouble? It’s not about that.

“I have 24 players, I have to get rid of five players because Kovacic was sent off in the last game.

“I’m thinking of Jack and Khusanov and McAtee. It’s nothing personal with Jack.

“I’m the person who fought for him to come here and the person who fought for him to stay here this season and the next season. I’m the one who said I want Jack Grealish.

“Now he didn’t come because he didn’t come, but not something else What happens in the future is a job for Txiki [Begiristain], Hugo and the agents.”

Guardiola’s comments also came just days after he sensationally threatened to quit if the club fails to reduce the numbers in his squad this summer.

Despite the additional depth provided, Guardiola claimed the hurt of telling players they won’t be involved is ‘impossible for my soul’.

“I said to the club I don’t want that [a bigger squad],” Guardiola said.

“I don’t want to leave five or six players in the freezer. I don’t want that. I will quit.

“Make a shorter squad, I will stay.

“It’s impossible for my soul to [tell] my players in the tribune [stands] that they cannot play.”

Guardiola added: “Maybe [for] three, four months we couldn’t select 11 players, we didn’t have defenders, it was so difficult.

“After, people came back, but next season it cannot be like that.

“As a manager I cannot train 24 players and every time I select I have to have four, five, six stay in Manchester at home because they cannot play. This is not going to happen.

“I said to the club, I don’t want that.”

City will now have a few weeks of rest before they return to action at the Club World Cup, where teams will compete for a share of an eye-watering $1billion (£777m) prize purse.

Guardiola’s side was drawn in Group C and will face Juventus, Al Ain and Wydad.

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