Inside Guardiola's darkest Man City period: Divorce, tears and dressing-room battles

Spremljajte Nogomanio kot prednostni vir na Googlu
Dodajte Nogomanio med priljubjene vire v Google News in
prejemajte najpomembnejše nogometne novice med prvimi.

A new documentary about Pep Guardiola's final two years at Manchester City has revealed a side of the legendary coach rarely seen in public, including tears, furious dressing-room speeches and deeply personal conversations with his players.

One of the most striking scenes concerns former captain Kyle Walker, who asked to leave City before joining AC Milan on loan in January 2025.

Guardiola furious with Walker

Days after Walker's departure, Guardiola addressed his players before a match against Chelsea and admitted how disappointed he was with his captain.

"So now, what happened with Kyle. It was so easy for him to come to me and say, 'I'm tired'. But you cannot behave as a captain the way he has. You cannot, in the toughest moments in our lives."

The documentary also captures an earlier confrontation between Guardiola and Walker following City's defeat at Liverpool in December 2024.

After Guardiola criticised Walker for losing possession, the defender responded angrily.

"Every meeting, it's my name," Walker complained.

"Maybe because you're a captain," Guardiola replied.

Walker then fired back: "OK. You didn't want me to be your captain."

Walker eventually left City after making 316 appearances and winning six Premier League titles under Guardiola.

Guardiola breaks down in front of his players

Another powerful scene shows Guardiola in tears while discussing his own future with the squad.

After suffering four consecutive defeats for the first time in his managerial career, he had even told the club: "Maybe it's over."

But Guardiola ultimately signed a contract extension in November 2024 because he did not want to abandon his players during their difficulties.

"If I'm a problem, then you have to tell me," an emotional Guardiola told the dressing room.

"I won't stay here just for the money. I extended the contract because I want to be here with you. I want to win a fight in that position. I don't want to feel that I'm leaving and running away from you."

Divorce affected Guardiola behind the scenes

The documentary also explores one of the most difficult periods of Guardiola's personal life.

Long-time staff member Manel Estiarte reveals that players became concerned about their manager because his behaviour had noticeably changed while he was going through a divorce.

"They were worried because Pep was anxious. He was sad. He was different. And only I knew the reason," Estiarte explains.

He eventually told the players what Guardiola was experiencing privately.

"You're seeing a human being. He's getting a divorce."

Guardiola himself spoke openly about the separation during a Champions League defeat against Juventus in December 2024.

"Guys, I want to confess something. I'm divorced from the most beautiful woman on your planet, my wife, my ex-wife. I love her unbelievably, but we lost the passion."

He then used his personal experience to deliver a message to his players.

"In your life, whatever you're going to do, do it with passion. I don't want a good player; I want players with passion."

'I feel alone, I want to quit'

The emotional pressure continued into the following season.

After a defeat against Bayer Leverkusen in November 2025, Guardiola delivered another furious dressing-room speech.

"I work for you, and I leave my life, my divorce, and my family away and everything for all of you. And what do you give back?"

He described City's performance as a "disgrace" before adding: "I'm exhausted, I'm drained, I want to quit. When you play like this, I feel alone."

The documentary contains several similar moments. Guardiola threatens his players with the arrival of a new manager if performances fail to improve, demands greater emotional connection between teammates, and becomes obsessed with restoring the intensity that had defined his successful City teams.

De Bruyne departure 'killed' Guardiola

Another emotional chapter surrounds the departure of Kevin De Bruyne.

The Belgian spent ten years at City and won 16 trophies, but became one of the major casualties of the club's squad rebuild.

The documentary shows that De Bruyne did not want to leave, breaking down in tears as he discussed what the decision meant for his family.

Guardiola also struggled with the decision.

"It kills me. Without Kevin, that period, forget about it. He was crying here in the office. Oh God. I have affection for that player. We lived incredible things together. Then you have to be colder."

City had doubts about Rayan Cherki

The series also provides an insight into City's transfer decisions.

Sporting director Hugo Viana admits the club received concerning reports about Rayan Cherki before paying £30m for the Frenchman in 2025.

"The information on Cherki was not so positive; I will be very honest. Everybody knew about his abilities, but there was this idea that he was chaotic."

Cherki eventually answered those doubts on the pitch, registering four goals and 12 assists in 33 Premier League appearances last season.

Guardiola needed to walk away

Guardiola eventually left Manchester City at the end of the 2025/26 season after ten years and 20 trophies, including the FA Cup and League Cup during his final campaign.

After years of relentless pressure, personal difficulties and extraordinary success, Guardiola admitted that he did not know when he would return to management.

"I don't know even myself what I am going to do. It will be difficult to come back. That's my feeling today. I need to refresh many things that happened in my personal life."

The documentary therefore offers much more than another account of Manchester City's successes and failures. It shows Guardiola during perhaps the most vulnerable period of his managerial career, dealing simultaneously with a struggling team, difficult departures and profound changes in his private life.