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Pep Guardiola has issued a stark warning to Manchester City, stating he could walk away from the club if they hand him an oversized squad next season. The Spanish manager is adamant about not wanting to leave a large number of fit players out of the team. City are set to enter the summer transfer window with the aim of rejuvenating their ageing squad, following Kevin De Bruyne's final home game for the club in Tuesday's 3-1 victory over Bournemouth.

Despite a season plagued by injuries and an increasingly demanding fixture schedule, Guardiola insists on maintaining a smaller, more manageable group of players. "I said to the club I don't want that (a bigger squad)," Guardiola declared. "I don't want to leave five or six players in the freezer. I don't want that. I will quit. Make a shorter squad, I will stay. It's impossible for my soul to (tell) my players in the tribune that they cannot play."

Guardiola acknowledged the difficulties faced this season due to a lack of available players, but insisted that the situation must change next season.

He added: "As a manager I cannot train 24 players and every time I select I have to have four, five, six, stay in Manchester at home because they cannot play. This is not going to happen. I said to the club I don't want that."

Despite a season marred by injuries, including the long-term absence of Rodri who only returned as a substitute on Tuesday night, Guardiola has expressed a preference for filling gaps with academy players rather than making new signings.

Guardiola's stance means City will need to reduce their squad size before considering any new additions in the upcoming transfer window. "If I have injuries, unlucky, we have some players for the academy and we do it," he declared.

"(We) cannot sustain for the emotion of the club, the soul of the team, (to) create another connection with each other that this season we lost it a bit."

City's victory on Tuesday was crucial to maintain control over their Champions League qualification fate, with a draw against Fulham on Sunday now likely sufficient to secure their spot.

Omar Marmoush's spectacular goal opened the scoring, and despite De Bruyne missing an open net, Bernardo Silva extended the lead before half-time.

The match saw Mateo Kovacic of City and Bournemouth's Lewis Cook receive red cards in quick succession, while Nico Gonzalez added a late third for City, followed by Daniel Jebbison's injury-time consolation goal.