Manchester City squad audit: Pep Guardiola has ‘too many players', but who goes?

New York Times

4 hours ago

Manchester City brushed Juventus aside in a highly impressive 5-2 win to confirm their status as group winners Getty Images Getty Images
Having flirted with the idea of making Manchester City's squad bigger to help combat injuries, Pep Guardiola is sticking to his guns and wants to again work with a relatively small group.
The problem is that City currently have 32 senior pros.
'We have a long squad, too many players,' Guardiola said on Sunday. 'We cannot go with 26 or 27 players this season because there would be more not playing.
'Step by step, maybe a few players are going to move.'
So who should stay and who should go? Sam Lee takes a look...
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Manchester City squad audit: Pep Guardiola has 'too many players', but who goes? Getty Images
Feeling brave? Weston McKennie and Timothy Weah clearly were this week when they committed the ultimate faux-pas for many in their adopted home. They criticised the food.
The Juventus duo did not have their diplomatic hats on when they suggested that Italians "don't have variety" in their cuisine.
Now it's got the US versus European food debate fired up with some pretty invested people on both sides of the Atlantic arguing their case. Will there be post match pasta if Juventus win tonight?
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How Weston McKennie and Tim Weah wound up a nation: 'Are you going to say Italian food is trash?'
'It's impossible, terribly hot. My toenails were hurting; I couldn't slow down or speed up. It was unbelievable.'
Players, fans and executives have been complaining to The Athletic about the heat at the Club World Cup - and it's about to get a lot hotter as a heatwave will shortly hit the U.S., taking temperatures past 100F and turning up the humidity.
FIFA says it has cooling breaks in place for players but experts say it should take more proactive action.
The Athletic 's staff on the ground explain the issues, how teams are trying to cope, what FIFA is doing and consider if it should do more. Dive deeper below.
It would be clumsy to say that Kenan Yildiz would be making a name for himself if he has a good tournament this summer.
After extending his contract until 2029 last summer, the Turkey international took over the iconic No 10 shirt worn by some of the greatest players in the club's history — but at just 20, there is still so much to be excited about.
Fleet-footed, fearless, and forward-thinking, Yildiz is a box of tricks in his desire to dribble past his opponent. Yildiz's 113 take-ons are more than any other Juventus player in Serie A this season.
Much like his team, Yildiz's form has fluctuated this season but there is undoubtedly enough evidence in his performances that he can be the key attacking weapon in Juventus' attack.
As the club known as The Old Lady negotiates a tricky period in their recent history, Yildiz looks to be a window into their future.
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Club World Cup Group G: A chance for Manchester City and Juventus to end the season positively? Getty Images
These tournaments are all about the shared experience — and we would love to hear from you throughout this Club World Cup.
Be it a comment, observation, prediction, a question you always wanted answered, or something completely different, we welcome it all.
Email us at [e-mail] and have your say. We're already looking forward to reading what you've got for us. Getty Images
With just four games left of the group stage at the 2025 Club World Cup, we already know six of the eight last-16 ties — and we have a few cracking ties to look forward to already.
Here is how the knockouts are shaping up ahead of today's matches.
Saturday 12pm – Palmeiras vs Botafogo
– Palmeiras vs Botafogo 4pm – Benfica vs Chelsea
Sunday 12pm – Paris Saint-Germain vs Inter Miami
– Paris Saint-Germain vs Inter Miami 4pm – Flamengo vs Bayern Munich
Monday 3pm – Inter vs Fluminense
– Inter vs Fluminense 9pm – Group G winner vs Group H runner-up
Tuesday 3pm – Group H winner vs Group G runner-up
– Group H winner vs Group G runner-up 3pm – Borussia Dortmund vs Monterrey
All times ET Getty Images
Juventus vs Manchester City, a clash of two of Europe's heavyweights, is the standout match of the group — and it is not even close.
Helpfully, we can use some crumbs of tactical insight from earlier this season, when they faced off in the Champions League, with Juventus running out 2-0 winners in a league-phase fixture in Turin on December 11.
Visitors City dominated the possession and territory, pinning Juventus back with wide combinations. However, it was the home side who were sharper in attack, with both goals coming from crosses which City failed to defend properly.
At a time when City were still adjusting to not having injured midfielder Rodri around to break up opposition attacks, their vulnerability to the counter was rife in nearly every game.
City's rest defence has tightened up in the months since, but keep an eye out to see whether Guardiola's side fall back into old habits this summer.
Fans have had to wait until matchday three for the European pair to face off in Orlando, but given this will be the blockbuster tie of the group, you would imagine it will be worth the wait. Getty Images
And here is a more easily digestible look at today's four fixtures and where they are all being played.
Group G – 3pm ET Juventus vs Manchester City — Camping World Stadium, Orlando
Wydad AC vs Al Ain — Audi Field, Washington, DC
Group H – 9pm ET Al Hilal vs Pachuca — GEODIS Park, Nashville
— GEODIS Park, Nashville RB Salzburg vs Real Madrid — Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia
Both of these teams will be desperate to avoid Real Madrid in the last 16, I imagine.
Group G is twinned with Group H and Xabi Alonso's men are in pole position to finish first in the latter.
Madrid, currently first, and second-placed Salzburg are level on points and if, as expected, Xabi Alonso's side avoid defeat and top the group, they will face the second-placed team in Group G... which will be decided in this match.
All clear?
It has been a case of total domination in Group G from Juventus and Manchester City. They have won both of their matches and have already booked their places in the knockouts.
The only thing left to be decided is who advances as group winners.
As for Al Ain and Wydad AC, there is little else other than pride left to play for. Venue: Camping World Stadium, Orlando, Florida
Camping World Stadium, Orlando, Florida Capacity: 58,500
58,500 Team(s): UCF Knights, Orlando Guardians
Camping World Stadium opened before World War II, and it's a huge stadium that is well known in the U.S. as a neutral site stadium for college football games.
It has undergone several remodels and expansions that make the venue ideal for big concerts.
In that sense, it's clear why FIFA picked Camping World Stadium as one of the stadiums that will host one of the tournament's marquee games. Juventus versus Manchester City will have a U.S. summer tour feel to it.
This time it'll be, in theory, a meaningful match in which two European powers battle for first place in Group G. It'll be scorching hot in Orlando, so bring your sunscreen and drink plenty of water. The Athletic
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All matches at this Club World Cup are available to watch on DAZN, so you can watch this afternoon's game in the United States and anywhere else that has access to DAZN.
You can also tune into this match via TNT and truTV in the U.S.
This match has been chosen for broadcast on free-to-air TV in the UK, via Channel 5. Getty Images
The match kicks off at 3pm ET, 12pm midday PT in the United States.
That works out as 8pm BST in the UK and 9pm CET in Italy. Getty Images
Hello everyone!
Our 2025 Club World Cup coverage continues today with a clash of two titans of European football: Juventus and Manchester City.
Both have already qualified for the knockout stages, but will be keen to secure top spot in their group to avoid potentially facing Real Madrid in the next round.
Who will prevail? The Athletic is the best place to find out.