The Citizens will be forced to compete in the competition with a reduced squad of 21 players after they were sanctioned for breaching UEFA’s financial fair play rules.
The Premier League chlampions would normally have needed to have eight home-grown names in their squad, but following a request from players’ union FIFPro, this number has been reduced.
“It came after a request from the players union FIFPro saying when you take these kind of sanctions and measures you cannot harm the players – and the rights of a player who has a contract – for the behaviour of the clubs,” explained UEFA’s general secretary Gianni Infantino.
“So we looked at it and it was felt appropriate there for the number to be proportionally reduced as well.”
Last season City fielded seven home-grown players in Europe, namely: Joleon Lescott, Micah Richards, James Milner, Jack Rodwell, ,Gael Clichy, Dedryck Boyata and Joe Hart.
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