Pep to Ring Changes for Al Ain & Questions Squad Size

Pep Guardiola has confirmed Manchester City will sell several squad players after admitting his squad has become unwieldy following recent signings for the Club World Cup.

The City manager revealed before the upcoming clash with Al Ain that England internationals Kyle Walker and Jack Grealish face uncertain futures, whilst Ilkay Gündogan continues to attract interest from Galatasaray.

Speaking at his pre-match briefing, Guardiola denied knowledge of Gündogan's Turkish links but acknowledged departures were inevitable after securing Tijjani Reijnders, Rayan Cherki and Rayan Ait-Nouri.

City's squad has swollen beyond 30 players, far exceeding Guardiola's preferred ceiling of 20 senior pros.

"I'd happily keep every player we have now for the entire campaign," the Catalan explained. "But they'll become frustrated, dejected and let down. I'm doing this for their benefit, not mine. We must wait and see how things develop before the window shuts."

Meanwhile Guardiola confirmed Rodri remains unavailable for the Al Ain fixture as he manages his return from injury.

"His recovery progresses well. He can handle 20 or 30-minute spells now. He's eager to contribute but we're protecting that knee," he said.

The manager previously hinted at fielding "10 new faces" against Al Ain, suggesting debuts for Ait-Nouri and a probable start for Erling Haaland.

Al Ain arrive in Atlanta still reeling from their opening 5-0 humiliation against Juventus, a result that left manager Vladimir Ivić questioning his players' awareness of European football's standard.

The UAE outfit, who earned their place as AFC Champions League winners, were dismantled in Washington with four goals conceded before half-time.

Ivić admitted the Turin giants' quality caught some of his squad off guard, doubting whether all his players truly understood the calibre of opposition they'd face.

"It shocked us somewhat because we rate our squad highly within our domestic context," Ivić reflected. "Several players joined recently and this tournament represents a completely different level from our usual competition.

"Juventus deserved their victory without question. They were superior, scored five and could have managed more. They had five or six attempts in the first half and converted four. That's slightly unfortunate timing.

"Looking at how we conceded – the second, third and fourth goals came in stoppage time. We created opportunities ourselves and could have scored twice.

"But it was shocking. The players didn't grasp Juventus's true level, which makes me wonder if they actually follow European football. We always show footage of opponents and explain who we're facing – that's standard practice.

"We take each match as it comes. Tomorrow brings another test. We believe in ourselves and will give everything to discover our standing against a team like City."

City began their campaign with a comfortable 2-0 victory over Wydad Casablanca, putting them within touching distance of the last 16 with another win.

Ivić acknowledges the "enormous challenge" his side faces in halting City's momentum, whilst paying tribute to Guardiola's revolutionary impact on modern football.

"You called him 'one of the best' – no, he's the finest coach in world football, proven over 15 years," Ivić said. "He's transformed the game entirely. It's an honour facing his team, though I'm obviously working for the opposition now, trying to extract the maximum from my players and club.

"City needs no introduction. They've claimed six or seven Premier League titles in the past decade from the world's strongest league. Anyone who follows football understands Manchester City's significance today.

"When you face the best, you want to deliver your best. My players will give absolutely everything from first whistle to last because this represents a massive challenge."