Manchester City’s beachfront hotel on Florida’s east coast offers guests half a mile of private shoreline, with loungers, luxury cabanas, and shaded zero gravity chairs overlooking the Atlantic Ocean.

The first two weeks of City’s new season have been smooth and upbeat, with new coaches earning player approval and two convincing wins over weaker opponents. Ilkay Gündogan notably criticized teammates for a sluggish display in their 6-0 victory over Al Ain.

The day after, securing their spot in the last 16 of the Club World Cup ahead of a decisive match against Juventus, the squad enjoyed a seaside recovery session. Pep Guardiola engaged in light-hearted drills, including two-touch games, reveling in minor miscontrols from his players.

This trip feels like an optimistic reset, despite upcoming tough decisions. Key staff changes include the departure of director of football Txiki Begiristain and sole leadership of Hugo Viana, with the club’s transfer activity shifting towards trimming the squad.

With only seven weeks until the Premier League opener, City’s current squad of 27 players is unsustainable. Notably, players like Jack Grealish, James McAtee, and Mateo Kovacic are absent, and the squad’s size poses practical and regulatory challenges, especially in European competitions.

City faces restrictions on foreign players, limiting them to 17 in the squad for league and European matches. Several recent signings, including Claudio Echeverri and Abdukodir Khusanov, either cannot be registered in Europe or limit available spots. The homegrown count is also low, with only five officially qualifying, excluding U-21 players Rico Lewis and Nico O’Reilly.

In the squad, some players like Bernardo Silva and John Stones publicly express their desire to stay, reinforcing Guardiola’s stable leadership amid ongoing transfer speculations. Silva, now captain, and other veterans show commitment, despite rumors of departures.

Midfield remains a complex area with about twelve players competing for limited spots. New arrivals like Rayan Ait-Nouri could influence tactical setups, especially if he continues his aggressive high-positioning, which might open opportunities for players like Jeremy Doku or Savinho to step into midfield.

City’s upcoming fixtures, beginning with a challenging match against Juventus, will clarify their strategic approach. Changes in the squad are imminent and some players are clearly fighting for their future roles, transforming this pre-season into a crucial period of evaluation.