Was it always smooth sailing between Pep Guardiola and his Manchester City players?
It may appear so to the unaware observer, as the Premier League’s dominant side over the past decade won trophy after trophy.
But a new Amazon documentary has laid bare the strained relationship in the team’s dressing room in the Spaniard’s final seasons.
The four-part series, A Beautiful Obsession, follows Guardiola through his last two seasons at City and shows the manager struggling to deal with their prolonged loss of form. It also reveals the extent of his frustration with his players and the effect his personal circumstances had on him, including his divorce.
One of the most revealing exchanges comes after City’s 2-0 defeat by Liverpool at Anfield in December 2024. Guardiola criticised Walker over his role in the defeat before the then captain objected to what he saw as repeated criticism.
“You keep saying my name in every meeting and every fucking thing,” Walker tells him. Guardiola replies: “Maybe because you’re a captain.”
Walker then says: “You didn’t want me to be a captain.” Guardiola becomes emotional as he responds to the disagreement and tells his players that he would not remain if they believed he was the problem.
“This is my defeat – if I am a problem you have to tell me,” Guardiola says. “I won’t stay here for the money or for the fact just to stay, I don’t want to feel that I have to run away from you.”
ALSO READ: The story of Pep Guardiola’s reign at Manchester City in 10 matches
The documentary also details the pressure Guardiola was under during City’s worst period of his decade-long reign. City lost nine and won one of 13 matches during a difficult spell in autumn 2024. Guardiola had extended his contract despite the run but later acknowledged that he was struggling with the demands of the job.
Coming soon – an unflinching four-part docuseries capturing the final chapters of Pep Guardiola’s dramatic decade at Man City. 🎬
A Beautiful Obsession, exclusively on Prime Video in the UK and Ireland from August 19. 📺 pic.twitter.com/vKuPWSawSn
— Manchester City (@ManCity) July 30, 2026
After a defeat by Juventus, he told the squad that he had separated from his wife, Cristina Serra. Manel Estiarte, Guardiola’s long-time adviser, had already told the players that the manager was going through a difficult period.
“They were worried because Pep was nervous, sad, different, and only I knew the reason,” Estiarte says. “I said to the team, ‘You’re seeing a human being. He’s getting divorced’.”
Guardiola also describes the impact of City’s poor results on his daily life, saying after a Champions League defeat by Paris Saint-Germain that he did not want to eat, drink or sleep.
His anger is even greater after City’s 2-0 home defeat by Bayer Leverkusen, when his decision to make 10 changes was blamed for contributing to the loss. In the dressing room, Guardiola questions the players’ courage and commitment and tells them they could have another manager if they continued to perform in that way.
“I work for you. I leave my life, my divorce and my family is away and everything for all of you,” he says. “And what do you give back? The performance you have done, all of you. It’s a disgrace, guys.”
ALSO READ: Guardiola says he lost to Leverkusen because he was “too nice” to his players
The outburst prompted concern at board level. In voice notes exchanged after the defeat, City chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak described the result as “probably one of the lowest points we’ve had” and said he was “so angry”. Chief executive Ferran Soriano urged a response that was neither “too negative or aggressive” nor “too kind or accommodating”.
Who was Pep talking to? 😆 pic.twitter.com/DqH4A0nB1N
— Manchester City (@ManCity) May 26, 2026
Guardiola’s approach to individual players is also shown. At half-time of the FA Cup final he confronts Erling Haaland over his work without the ball and demands a greater effort.
“I love you anyway, Erling, like a father, I love you anyway,” Guardiola tells the striker. “But it’s not about that. Nothing else. Show me you want to win.”
The series also covers Guardiola’s decision to leave City at the end of last season, including the club’s handling of the announcement and his decision to tell the players only shortly before their final match.
Guardiola left after 10 seasons and 20 trophies, including four Premier League titles and the 2023 Champions League.
