Man City Faces Squad Overhaul, Injuries Ahead Premier League Season

Pep Guardiola faces a challenging start to his final season at Manchester City, with key injuries and a bloated squad threatening the club's performance. The team is dealing with serious injuries to Rodri and Mateo Kovacic, both crucial midfielders, with Rodri potentially sidelined until after the September international break and linked with a possible transfer to Real Madrid. Guardiola has expressed concerns about the squad size, currently at 31 senior players, which he believes is too large and hampers his management style; several players including Jack Grealish, Stefan Ortega, and James McAtee are expected to leave soon. The club has been active in the transfer market, bringing in new players to refresh the squad while offloading aging or surplus players like Kevin De Bruyne, Scott Carson, and Kyle Walker. Guardiola has also admitted that the team might start the season underprepared due to fewer pre-season friendlies and a focus on rest and training following a demanding previous season. Despite these issues, Guardiola and the club remain optimistic about managing the situation and preparing for the Premier League campaign ahead.