PEP GUARDIOLA labelled Manchester City a “team full of fat players” when he first arrived at the club, according to former defender Gael Clichy.
The Spanish coach, 53, was left with an ageing squad when he arrived at the Etihad back in 2016 following the departure of Manuel Pelligrini – with 12 of his 28 players aged 30 or over.
But even a dressing room as experienced as that Man City side will have been astonished by Guardiola’s bluntness – recounted by ex-left-back Clichy.
Recalling Guardiola’s words, Clichy said: “[Speaking as Guardiola] I’ve known that I’ve been coming here for a year now and I’ve been watching you, you’re a team full of fat players.”
The ex-Barcelona and Bayern Munich boss then went on to send a no-nonsense message to his squad regarding transfers.
Clichy, still acting as Guardiola, added: “With me, no player is going to be playing every game… deal with it.
“If you’re not happy with that, come knock on my door and we’ll make you leave.
“If you stay, I don’t want to hear a single word about it until winter transfer window.”
Guardiola endured a difficult start to life in England, finishing fourth in his first season in the Premier League.
Clichy left at the end of that 2016/17 campaign after featuring 39 times in all competitions during the season.
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But Man City then went from strength to strength, winning back-to-back league titles, an FA Cup and two League Cups across the next two seasons.
And heading into the final weeks of the 2023/24 campaign, Guardiola has racked up five Premier Leagues, two FA Cups, four League Cups and a Champions League in eight years in Manchester.
Man City are also chasing history this season as winning their final four Premier League games would see them become the first team in English football history to claim four successive top-flight titles.
They could then add to that six days later by retaining the FA Cup against rivals Manchester United at Wembley.
