City content to wait for the right option

CONTRARY to popular belief, Manchester City don't have a big squad

- SIMON BAJKOWSKI

Pep Guardiola does not like to have huge numbers of players like Chelsea had last season because he prefers working with a smaller group that he can be closer with and not have to disappoint more on a regular basis by leaving them out of the team.

If it was Jose Mourinho that made two players for every position seem the idea, the City coach much prefers fewer players who can cover several positions.

That means that great thought is taken when any additions are made to the squad: the question that is always asked is how can they improve on what is already there? When what is already there has just won a Treble, it is even harder to answer.

City have already brought in Mateo Kovacic, the experienced Chelsea and Croatia midfielder, who can take some of the minutes of the outgoing skipper Ilkay Gundogan this season.

The club's sporting director Txiki Begiristain has suggested Kovacic can play in the No.6 position to give competition for Rodri and Kalvin Phillips as well as the No.8 role.

Kovacic was never designed to be the replacement for Gundogan in part because of the magnitude of player City have lost given his achievements at the club.