In a stunning development at the Etihad Stadium, the news broke like a thunderclap that Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola had decided to take the most drastic step of his coaching career in England so far. Five players, men who had trained, fought, and celebrated titles under him, were going to see their contracts terminated this summer. The announcement shocked not just City fans but the entire football world. After years of almost mechanical dominance, where City won title after title, scoring goals like clockwork and suffocating their opponents with relentless pressing and passing, it seemed the Guardiola machine had finally begun to sputter.
The 2024/25 season will be remembered not for another title parade through Manchester, but for frustration, near-misses, and a deep sense of disappointment. For the first time in years, City looked vulnerable, even ordinary at times. They were knocked out of the Champions League before the final, beaten in key Premier League matches that had once been routine wins, and were left watching as the title went to their rivals. The collapse left everyone in the City hierarchy asking hard questions about hunger, about motivation, about whether the same players could continue to deliver at the highest level.
Pep Guardiola is many things—a visionary, a perfectionist, a demanding leader—but above all he is ruthless when it comes to maintaining standards. He has always believed in total control, in pushing players to give everything for the cause. Those who fell short, no matter their reputation or past contribution, would find themselves out.
That philosophy is what brought City to the summit of English and European football. It is also what now fuels this drastic decision to cut ties with five players. While Guardiola did not name them all publicly in his explosive press conference, the leaks from within the club began immediately. Journalists, insiders, and fans connected the dots, naming players who had struggled for form, fitness, or motivation throughout the season.
At that press conference, Guardiola’s face was tight with resolve. He was asked directly why he was taking such a severe step. He didn’t dodge. “Because we have standards here,” he said, voice low but clear. “We know what it takes to win, and it’s not enough to talk about it. You must show it. And this year, too many times, we didn’t.”
He paused, his eyes scanning the room of journalists who had covered his entire City career, who had seen him at his most triumphant. “This club has had the best period in its history,” he said. “But if you think that lasts forever without sacrifice, without change, then you don’t understand football.”
The room went silent, reporters scribbling notes, knowing this was more than just manager talk—it was the start of a revolution. City fans reacted with a mixture of shock and respect. Many were sad to see favourites likely to go. Others were relieved. For months they had debated online whether the squad had gone stale. The phrase “complacency” had become popular among supporters who watched City’s usually sharp passing moves turn sloppy, the normally suffocating press fade away, and the cool finishing in front of goal become hesitant.
As the days passed, the first names of the five began to leak out. Among them was a senior midfielder who had once bossed City’s games but who had suffered injuries and whose legs seemed to have lost that crucial half-yard. Another was a talented but inconsistent winger who had cost big money but never fully settled. There was a defender whose mistakes had become too frequent, another forward who had sulked on the bench, and a goalkeeper signed as competition who never really threatened Ederson’s place. For each, there was a story. For each, there were good memories. But Guardiola’s message was clear: thank you for what you did, but it’s over.
Inside the club, the decision wasn’t made overnight. City’s football director Txiki Begiristain had been discussing the future with Guardiola since before the season ended. They analysed data on distance covered, pressing intensity, injuries, age profiles. They held private meetings with the players in question, giving them a chance to fight for their place. Some tried to convince Pep they still had it. Others seemed resigned.
Guardiola’s staff, known for their relentless video analysis, showed him clips of missed tackles, slow reactions, lost duels. They pointed to pressing stats that showed certain players weren’t closing down with the old hunger. They highlighted crucial games where City had been overrun in midfield or exposed at the back. In these meetings, Guardiola did what he has always done: he made the hard call. He chose to cut.
For the players, the news hit hard. They were professionals. They knew football is cruel. But many had built lives in Manchester. Their kids went to school there. Their partners had friends there. They had bought houses, settled in, believed they’d retire as City legends.
Some were angry, feeling betrayed after years of service. Others were sad, knowing they hadn’t delivered but hoping for another chance. Agents started making calls immediately, trying to find new clubs. In some cases, the termination deals included negotiated payouts so the players wouldn’t be left stranded.
For City, the cost of ending those contracts isn’t cheap. But the club knows that keeping players who don’t fit is even more expensive, because it risks poisoning the culture that Guardiola has worked so hard to build.
At training, the mood changed. Players realised no one was safe. Younger squad members trained harder than ever, knowing a door had just opened for them. Big stars who thought they were untouchable suddenly pushed themselves, eager to show Guardiola they were still committed.
Guardiola himself seemed energised by the shake-up. For years, people had speculated that he would leave City, that he’d grown bored or exhausted. But this move was proof he was staying, that he was planning the next chapter.
He told reporters: “I love these players. Always. They gave us everything. But I also love this club. And my job is to make it better. Always.” City’s owners in Abu Dhabi were fully behind him. They know Guardiola is their most important signing ever. They want him happy and motivated. When he came to them with the plan for a squad overhaul, they approved it immediately.
For the recruitment team, it meant an extremely busy summer. Scouts were told to find not just talent but hungry talent. Players who would run until their lungs burned. Players who would accept Guardiola’s strict demands and tactical instructions. Players who wouldn’t sulk if they were rotated.
City began drawing up targets. Young defenders from Portugal and France. Midfielders in Germany. Wingers in South America. Names leaked, causing a frenzy online. Fans created fantasy XIs with new signings and debated who should stay or go.
Meanwhile, rivals watched carefully. Liverpool, Arsenal, Manchester United, Chelsea—they all knew what it meant. Guardiola was not going to roll over. City were wounded, yes, but they were dangerous because of it. Journalists wrote think pieces about the gamble Guardiola was taking. Some praised him for having the courage to renew his squad. Others warned it could backfire, that cutting too many players at once could hurt squad harmony.
Guardiola didn’t care about the noise. He had done this before. At Barcelona, he let go of Deco and Ronaldinho to make room for Messi. At Bayern, he dropped senior players to give chances to younger stars. At City, he had previously moved on big names who refused to adapt. But this time felt even more dramatic. Five players at once. A clear message that City were preparing for a new cycle.
At the Etihad, the mood was tense but buzzing. Season-ticket holders began to dream about which new stars might arrive. City’s kit sales jumped when rumours of a big South American winger signing hit the news. Kids asked their parents if the team would finally win back the Champions League. Guardiola himself gave interviews where he promised City fans they would see a new team, one hungry to prove itself again. “I want them to run,” he said simply. “I want them to play with joy. And I want them to win.”
Inside the dressing room, the remaining senior players had meetings without the coaches. They talked about standards, about setting an example for new signings. Players like Kevin De Bruyne spoke quietly but firmly, reminding everyone of what it had taken to win in the past. Behind the scenes, the club psychologists worked overtime. Change is stressful, even for elite athletes. Some players needed help processing the loss of close teammates. Others needed encouragement to step up into leadership roles.
Meanwhile, the five who were leaving packed up their lockers. Staff hugged them. Some cried. Say what you want about professional football—it’s still a human business. Bonds are formed over years of shared battles. Guardiola himself met with each one privately. He thanked them. He explained the decision. He wished them well.
For some, the next chapter will be easy. Big-name clubs in Italy and Spain want proven winners. For others, it may be a step down, a painful acceptance that their peak years at the top are over. But football moves fast. By the time preseason starts in earnest, City’s squad will look different. Youngsters from the academy will be given chances. New signings will be unveiled with big smiles and the famous sky-blue shirt.
Guardiola will stand on the training pitch, barking instructions, starting the process all over again. Building patterns of play. Demanding precision. Drilling his ideas until they become second nature. And when the first match of the new season kicks off, fans will watch closely. They’ll be hoping to see the old City again: hungry, dominant, relentless.
Guardiola knows it won’t be easy. But he has made his choice. He will not let this team grow old and stale. He will not stand by while rivals catch up. For City, this summer is more than just transfers. It is a test of their identity. Are they the best-run club in the world, able to evolve and stay on top? Or are they just another rich team that gets lazy after success?
The answer will come over months and years. But the first step has already been taken. Five players told they are no longer part of the plan. A bold, painful, necessary choice.
And Pep Guardiola, the demanding, brilliant, relentless manager, remains at the centre of it all, refusing to accept anything less than the very best.
