Guardiola in New Man City Doc: "I Divorced for You, and This is How You Repay Me?"

Former Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola reportedly clashed with his captain and was brought to tears while criticizing his players during one of his most challenging periods at the club. This revelation comes from the new Amazon Prime documentary series, "A Beautiful Obsession." The Spaniard stepped down from his coaching role with the "Citizens" at the end of last season, having secured 20 trophies over a decade at the Etihad Stadium. During his tenure with City, he won six Premier League titles, three FA Cups, five League Cups, and the Champions League in 2023, earning the title of England's best manager five times.

One of Guardiola's toughest moments occurred in the autumn of 2024, when his team suffered nine losses and only one win in a 13-match stretch. The manager showed signs of desperation, particularly when he appeared with scratches on his face after a 3-3 draw with Dutch side Feyenoord in a Champions League match, where City had led 3-0 until the 75th minute. At one point, Pep Guardiola had a heated argument in the dressing room with then-captain Kyle Walker, who felt unfairly blamed for the team's failures. "You always say my name in every meeting. Every time it's my name... You somehow involve my name," Walker complained after a loss to Liverpool, to which Guardiola responded that the Englishman was taking the issue too personally.

Another moment of despair came in November 2025 after a 0-2 home defeat against Bayer Leverkusen in the Champions League, following which Pep Guardiola threatened to leave the team. "This lack of courage, passion, love, and desire to win is unacceptable. I work for you. I gave up my life, got divorced, my family is far away, and all of this for you. And how do you repay me? With this terrible performance. It's a disgrace. I am truly exhausted. When I feel drained and depleted, I want to leave," the Spaniard stated at the time.

In his annual interview for Manchester City in June, club chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak explained that Guardiola had threatened to leave at least a hundred times, but after the Leverkusen match, it truly seemed possible. The four-episode documentary series, which covers the Spanish specialist's final two seasons in the "blue" half of Manchester, also includes footage of discussions about the team's transfer policy, as well as the disappointment of long-serving star Kevin De Bruyne after learning his contract would not be renewed.