City have five Premier League games and an FA Cup final remaining, with the Blues still in with a shout of completing a domestic treble.
With eight days before our next assignment, we’ll then squeeze all of those fixtures into an intense 21-day period.
Having shuffled the pack for Saturday’s FA Cup semi-final victory over Southampton, Guardiola is keen to make sure all of his players are ready to go as we push for yet more silverware.
“That’s why I need them,” he said when asked about the schedule.
“The last weeks playing regularly the same team, we need the squad. We need all of them. Being better or worse doesn’t matter, we will need it.
“With this amount of games every three days with the same players will not be possible.
“We have to manage good substitutions and everybody has to make a step forward. I will demand more and more and this is what we have to do.”
WATCH: Brief highlights: City 2-1 Southampton
We made eight changes to the starting lineup at Wembley, with the likes of experienced figures John Stones and Nathan Ake coming into a team that’s been in fine form in recent weeks.
While several of the players who featured at Wembley haven’t been at the centre of things in the spring, Guardiola said there was never any doubt about their ability to fit seamlessly into that clash.
“Together with Pep Lijnders, we felt we had to make all the players play,” he said.
“They have a lot of confidence. Look at the games from John and Nathan, they are extraordinary and we know each other so well. I know they will be there.
“Matheus Nunes is becoming one of the best right-backs in the world, defensively and arriving in the byline. That is what we need.
“Omar didn’t score but had three or four chances. Five games and the FA Cup final, let’s do it together. Then holidays and come back next season.”
WATCH: Guardiola says domestic treble is ‘far away’
With the final extended window to train and rest before our next game, Guardiola has granted his players three days off before reporting back to the City Football Academy on Wednesday.
The boss says he’s learned over his near-decade in England to allow that time to mentally recharge whenever possible.
“I learn in this country that to have as many days off, the team plays better. People believe that as much as you train you will play better but completely the opposite,” he surmised.
“We have to train of course but you have to arrive fresh. In the beginning I train a lot but now, home and quality time. Everybody will be ready.”
