Football: Man City have smallest squad in Premier League, claims Guardiola

MANCHESTER – Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola claimed his squad depth is the weakest in the English Premier League after Sunday’s victory over Aston Villa left his side just three points off the top.

Goals by Rodri and Ilkay Gundogan and a penalty by Riyad Mahrez sealed a 3-1 win at the end of a week in which the champions were charged with more than 100 counts of alleged financial wrongdoing by the Premier League.

Ollie Watkins scored Villa’s consolation goal.

City have spent close to £2 billion (S$3.2 billion) on players since Abu Dhabi’s Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed al-Nahyan became owner in 2008 – winning six Premier League titles in that time.

Guardiola’s squad is valued at €1.05 billion (S$1.49 billion) by website transfermarkt and on Sunday he started with the likes of England internationals Kalvin Phillips and Phil Foden, plus Argentina striker Julian Alvarez, on the bench.

Yet, the Spaniard claimed he is working with a squad of less than 20 players as they chase league leaders Arsenal and attempt to win the Champions League – they face RB Leipzig in the round of 16 – for the first time.

“We have just 18, 19 players. Our depth is so, so small, maybe the smallest one in the Premier League by far,” Guardiola told Sky Sports.

“It’s important that we don’t have injuries but we have an incredible methodology for training to manage the fatigue and avoid injuries.

“We have incredible doctors and physios.”

City will face an independent commission to answer the charges brought by the Premier League, dating back to 2009.

Despite the cloud hanging over the club, reigning champions City have the chance to knock Arsenal off the top of the league standings when the sides meet at the Emirates Stadium on Wednesday.

“We are going to London to try and get a win. When one team has made 50 points in the first leg, it is because they are very good,” Guardiola said of the battle with Mikel Arteta’s side.

“We closed the gap today because the performance from the team was really, really good.”

Premier League top scorer Erling Haaland is a doubt for the clash. He came off at half-time after appearing to pick up a thigh injury as he clashed with Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez.

“Haaland had a knock, he was uncomfortable,” said Guardiola. “At 3-0 we don’t want to take risks.

“We’ll see and assess in the next days. Hopefully, he’s ready.”

In his absence, vice-captain Kevin de Bruyne could be key. Having been left out for City’s defeat by Tottenham Hotspur on Feb 5, the Belgian playmaker returned to the starting XI against Villa and had pundits purring.

Former Manchester United and England defender Gary Neville told Sky Sports: “He’s just is the best player in the league, full stop. If you keep those main players fit and they start to really hit some form, the rest are in big trouble.”

Neville’s former captain at Old Trafford, Roy Keane, said the Belgian midfielder “makes the others around him look better... (and) more comfortable”.

Former City and England defender Micah Richards added: “Everything he does, the way he gets his head up, the way he plays them passes, he’s just got absolutely everything. In the first half, he was just like playing in the playground with his mates.”

Watkins, however, said he and his team made things too easy for de Bruyne and company. He said: “It was not good enough from us collectively as a team.

“They are world-class players but we were too soft, me especially when Rodri ran past me for that goal. I should have made the second block and I feel I let us down today.” REUTERS, AFP