Pep Guardiola clashed with his captain and almost broke down in tears as he railed at players during his worst run as Manchester City manager. Guardiola stood down at the end of last season after winning 20 trophies in a 10-year spell at the Etihad Stadium. One of the lowest points of his glittering reign came during a testing run in the autumn of 2024, when City lost nine times and won only once in 13 games.
Guardiola outwardly showed signs of strain, notably when he scratched his face after City surrendered a 3-0 lead to draw 3-3 with Feyenoord in the Champions League. Behind closed doors he was also angry and upset with his players, as shown in a new fly-on-the-wall Amazon Prime documentary, A Beautiful Obsession. At one point he argued in the dressing room with then captain Kyle Walker, who felt he was being unfairly singled out.
You’ve somehow brought my name into it.” Walker, who had been voted captain by his teammates, also claimed Guardiola did not want him to be skipper. Guardiola responded by saying Walker was taking the issue too personally but also showed signs of emotion as he explained why he had extended his contract despite their poor run. I extended my contract because I want to be with you.
I don’t want you to feel like I’m leaving or running away.” Another extraordinary outburst came in November 2025 after a dismal 2-0 loss to Bayer Leverkusen in the Champions League. Guardiola, whose decision to make 10 changes had backfired, threatened to quit in the dressing room afterwards. He said: “It’s unacceptable this lack of courage, passion and love and desire to win and do it better.
I leave my life, my divorce and my family is away, and everything for all of you. And what do you give back? The fucking performance you have done.
I’m really fucking tired. When I see that I’m exhausted, I’m drained. I want to quit.” Khaldoon Al Mubarak, the Manchester City chair, recently said Guardiola must have threatened to leave “100 times” during his tenure but he too had his concerns after the Leverkusen game.
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