Headline: Manchester City Chairman Expresses Frustration Over Guardiola’s Champions League Decisions
Manchester City chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak expressed deep anger towards manager Pep Guardiola following the coach’s decision to make ten changes during a crucial Champions League match against Bayer Leverkusen last season, a choice that ultimately led to a 2-0 defeat. Al Mubarak revealed that he was so upset he found it difficult to speak to Guardiola afterward.
In the aftermath of the loss, Guardiola admitted to feeling “f***ing stupid,” acknowledging that his attempts to rotate the squad did not pay off in the November match.
In a private discussion, Al Mubarak and chief executive Ferran Soriano agreed that it was essential not to be too lenient with Guardiola regarding what they termed a needless mistake. Soriano, who has a long-standing partnership with Guardiola dating back to their time at Barcelona, remarked that their approach to Guardiola needs to balance constructive criticism with support, stating, “Our attitude with Pep should not be too negative but not too kind or accommodating either because it is his mistake.”
Al Mubarak’s frustration stemmed from the belief that Guardiola jeopardized the team’s chances of securing a top-eight finish by fielding a weakened side. He described the situation as one of the lowest points for the club, saying, “To go and to an entire new team on a game this important… probably one of the lowest points we have had. I can’t speak to him, honestly, I am so angry. He has put a mix in that is so unnecessary.”
The candid conversation, captured for the Prime Video documentary A Beautiful Obsession, highlighted some of the complexities involved in managing Guardiola. Soriano noted, “Geniuses are unbalanced people, not only Pep.” When confronted with this characterization, Guardiola acknowledged it, responding with a chuckle, “So I am an unbalanced person? Yeah, I am.”
A Beautiful Obsession is set to premiere exclusively on Prime Video in the UK and Ireland on August 19, 2026.
Manchester City chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak said he was so angry with Pep Guardiola for making 10 changes in their Champions League defeat to Bayer Leverkusen last season that he could not speak to him.
Guardiola told his players he felt “f***ing stupid” after his attempts at squad rotation backfired in November’s 2-0 home loss to the German club.
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But Al Mubarak and chief executive Ferran Soriano agreed in a private conversation that they could not go too soft on Guardiola after what they called a needless mistake.
Soriano, a long-term ally of Guardiola from his Barcelona days, said: “Our attitude with Pep should not be too negative but not too kind or accommodating either because it is his mistake.”
Pep Guardiola’s gamble of heavy rotation against Bayer Leverkusen failed to pay off last November (PA Wire)
Al Mubarak was furious with Guardiola for putting City’s chances of a top-eight finish at risk by bringing in his second-string players, though they eventually just avoided going into the knockout play-off round.
The Abu Dhabi businessman said: “To go and to an entire new team on a game this important… probably one of the lowest points we have had. I can’t speak to him, honestly, I am so angry. He has put a mix in that is so unnecessary.”
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Their call, recorded in the Prime Video documentary A Beautiful Obsession, showed some of their challenges in managing Guardiola.
Soriano said: “Geniuses are unbalanced people, not only Pep.” When that comment was put to Guardiola, he agreed, replying “So I am an unbalanced person? Yeah, I am.”
A Beautiful Obsession launches exclusively on Prime Video in UK & Ireland 19 August 2026
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