This summer will see the European Championships and Copa America take place as international football takes center stage this summer. It is an exciting time with two major tournaments taking place. But for clubs such as Manchester City it will be a nervous time. They will hope their players perform well on the biggest stage. But they will also be hoping their stars return from international duty fit and ready for the 24/25 season.
The world champions have a host of players who will be hoping for international success this summer. Players such as Phil Foden, Jack Grealish, Bernardo Silva, Nathan Ake, Josko Gvardiol, Rodri, Ruben Dias, Julian Alvarez, Kevin De Bruyne and more will all be hoping to lead their countries to glory this summer. The full list of Manchester City players selected for international duty can be found here. While it is an exciting time for the players there will be a flow-on effect heading into City’s preparations for the 24/25 season.
Euro 24 and the Copa America both wrap up a week and a half before City’s first pre-season game against Celtic. It will likely see the champions take a depleted squad on their pre-season tour of the United States. Manchester City won’t be alone in facing this conundrum this summer. It is becoming commonplace in the modern game. But it will likely disrupt Pep Guardiola’s pre-season plans with so many players having time off to recover from their international efforts.
How Pep Guardiola and his team navigate this hurdle will likely dictate how they start next season. While each season is a marathon the lack of a proper pre-season may affect the champions at the beginning of the next season. It may also force Pep Guardiola to change his preferred squad size. Guardiola prefers to work with a smaller squad but it may be necessary for Manchester City to take extra players into next season. This summer’s internationals do have the potential to alter City’s summer transfer plans. That could be another flow-on effect from a hectic summer for the City players.
Manchester City will likely pay a heavy price for having so many players busy this summer. It is the knock-on effect of having such a talented squad. How they navigate the pre-season and the beginning of next season will be interesting to watch unfold as the 24/25 season begins.
