"The Telegraph" reported that although Guardiola said he does not like too large a lineup, the deep bench depth is having a positive impact on him and the team.

A few days before the final game of last season's Premier League, Guardiola half-jokingly said that he would resign if the club insisted on him leading a larger lineup in the future.

The Manchester City coach explained at the time: "I told the club I didn't want that. I didn't want to leave five or six players out of the squad. In that case I would resign. Put together a lean squad and I would stay."

"My soul cannot tell the players that they cannot play. As a manager, I cannot train24 Players, every time you make a selection, you have to leave four, five, six people at home in Manchester because they can't play, that's never going to happen, and I made it clear to the club that I don't accept it."

Guardiola failed to do so. Manchester City's current 25-man squad is the largest in his nine-year tenure, but this seems to have been a blessing in disguise. Far from being troubled by the glut of options, the coach was encouraged by the depth of the team's lineup.

Of course, this means Guardiola has to let more players down. For example, last week against Bournemouth, Oscar Bob and Husanov were unfortunately not included in the game squad.

Although benching players and not giving them the playing time they deserve will bring challenges, having more soldiers and generals also has significant advantages, as evidenced by the hearty victory against Dortmund in midweek.

When Dortmund finally gained a foothold with 18 minutes left in the game, the elite players gathered on the Manchester City bench gave Guardiola all the room for adjustment he needed, which was enough to make most coaches look envious.

Bernardo Silva, Shirki and Ruben Dias appeared one after another, followed by Malmouche and Aite Nouri. At this time, people have long forgotten that Rodri, the team's most important player after Haaland, did not travel with the team. He returned briefly against Bournemouth and then was absent again.

A common misunderstanding about Manchester City in the Guardiola era is that he always had a huge lineup. That’s not the case, it’s just that every player he has fielded is world class or close to it. The club has also done a great job of maintaining the status of its main players and updating its lineup, always maintaining a perfect balance.

But things were different last season. Injuries to core players have dealt a heavy blow, and the club's slow pace of reconstruction has resulted in too many veterans who have passed their prime to remain in the team, and the status of many other players has also fluctuated.

The threat of these factors to Manchester City's prospects seems to have been greatly reduced this season. Guardiola has at least two high-quality options in every position. Even if he suffers injuries, with a larger lineup, Guardiola has gained unprecedented protection space. This also means that the team can calmly cope with the absence of Malmouche and Ait Nouri due to the African Cup of Nations, which starts on December 21.

If Manchester City goes further in all four competitions, a sufficient schedule should also minimize players' anxiety due to lack of playing time.

For most of last season, Guardiola seemed to be suffering. But now he is regaining his vitality, perhaps because he feels that he has a team that can truly revive its glory and its strength continues to improve. Haaland may be irreplaceable, and Foden's form is rarely matched, but Manchester City's overall lineup is indeed strong. What is the so-called "soul cannot bear"? Guardiola may find that a larger squad is more reassuring.