Headline: Pep Guardiola Reflects on Tumultuous Final Season with Manchester City in New Prime Video Documentary
In a recent episode of Prime Video’s A Beautiful Obsession, Pep Guardiola, former manager of Manchester City, opened up about the challenges faced during his last season with the club. A clip from the documentary features Guardiola firmly denying the idea of managing City in the future, stating, “Absolutely not.” This declaration takes on a poignant significance considering the emotional tribulations that characterized his final year in charge.
The documentary provides an intimate look into the City dressing room during a tumultuous phase, showcasing the team grappling with weekly losses. Guardiola displays vulnerability as he reflects on his diminished authority amid a series of disappointing results. Farewells echoed throughout this time, marked by feelings of bitterness, sadness, and sudden departures.
One notable tension arose between Guardiola and captain Kyle Walker. After blaming Walker for conceding goals, an argument ensued following a match at Anfield in December 2024. Guardiola, expressing frustration, exclaimed, “You don’t understand, Kyle,” to which Walker retorted, “You keep saying my name, every meeting in every f** thing.”
Two weeks later, during the Manchester derby, Guardiola cautioned Walker about potential threats from over-the-top balls, which ultimately led to Manchester United’s victory. Following that match, Walker played only three more games for City, facing an uncertain future as he contemplated a move abroad while being sidelined by Guardiola.
Additionally, the documentary presents other players adjusting to the team’s struggles. Injured midfielder Rodri was seen donning a hoodie that read “the Untouchables” after yet another loss, while Kevin De Bruyne reacted to a humiliating 4-0 defeat against Tottenham by voicing his frustration over the team’s performance.
Amid the chaos, Guardiola fervently sought to understand the root of the team’s performance dips, pleading with his players, “If I am the problem, you have to tell me.” After one defeat, he urged his squad to rally together, stating, “Now we have to do more because we are in a mess.” In a particularly personal moment, after a loss to Juventus, he spoke of his love for his ex-wife, suggesting a parallel between personal and professional challenges.
The documentary contrasts these raw moments with other glossed-over portrayals of football teams, particularly those curated by Manchester City during their more triumphant times. Kevin MacDonald, the documentary director known for The Last King of Scotland, highlights the intrigue in depicting a champion facing adversity. The series extensively covers City’s autumn collapse, with nine defeats in twelve games.
While the documentary does not address any of City’s pending charges, it poignantly depicts players being discarded as the club navigates a period of extensive change. Guardiola expressed regret over the decision to release De Bruyne, as club executives acknowledged the emotional weight of his departure.
Looking ahead, Manchester City faces significant challenges in rebuilding. Chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak noted flaws in the club’s summer 2024 transfer strategy, prompting the decision to acquire new talent. The hunt for a suitable replacement for De Bruyne has proven demanding, as the club analyzed various metrics to find a fitting successor. Initial interest in player Rayan Cherki raised some alarms regarding his off-field behavior; however, Guardiola reached out directly to convince him to sign.
Despite ongoing attempts to reshape the squad, City’s recent recruitment efforts did not elevate them as top contenders for the Premier League last season, according to their internal software metrics.
As Guardiola bids farewell to his managerial position, he reflected, “I had energy that I will not have any more.” His consideration of leaving the club surfaced earlier during the season, leading to introspection about his future. Al Mubarak noted that Guardiola’s frequent threats to leave had become a constant narrative, though eventually, the situation turned serious enough to prompt necessary changes.
In light of these challenges, former director of football Txiki Begiristain encouraged Guardiola to seek a life beyond football, indicating the importance of self-discovery outside of competitive sports.
The documentary, A Beautiful Obsession, premiered on Prime Video, offering viewers an exclusive glimpse into the hurdles faced during Guardiola’s eventful tenure at Manchester City.
A clue was caught on camera. Would the interviewee be Manchester City manager in five or six years? “Absolutely not,” smiled Pep Guardiola. He proved true to his word. But, in Prime Video‘s A Beautiful Obsession, a last glimpse into the City dressing room in the Catalan’s reign revealed some unexpected sights: City losing every week, Guardiola emotional and befuddled by the loss of his powers. It became a time of farewells, some bitter, some sad, some sudden, some drawn out.
In particular, there is the breakdown of Guardiola’s relationship with Kyle Walker, manager finding his captain culpable for goals, the right-back feeling it was wrong to blame him. “You don’t understand, Kyle,” exclaimed an exasperated Guardiola after the December 2024 loss at Anfield. “You keep saying my name, every meeting in every f****** thing. Every f****** meeting, it’s my name,” replied the defender.
Pep Guardiola waved goodbye to Manchester City at the end of last season (PA Wire)
Two weeks later, in the Manchester derby, Guardiola warned Walker at half-time to be wary of balls over the City defence. One then led to Amad Diallo’s winner for Manchester United. Walker only played three more times before his City career came to an abrupt end, the right-back eyeing a move abroad, his manager omitting him.
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There are other images of everything falling apart. The injured Rodri sat in the dressing room in a hoodie with the slogan “the Untouchables” after City slid to another loss; or Kevin De Bruyne, after the 4-0 home demolition by Ange Postecoglou’s Spurs, walking in and saying “f****** soft, guys”.
Central to it all, there is Guardiola, confounded by the sight of an all-conquering side in relegation form. “If I am the problem, you have to tell me,” he begged his players, voice welling up. After another game, he said: “Make me feel you are here, f****** hell, it is a f****** good team, a f****** good club. Now we have to do more because we are in a mess.” Strangest of all, perhaps, comes after defeat to Juventus when he tells his players he still loves his ex-wife but the passion between them is gone; whether Cristina Serra hoped that such details would be revealed in team-talks is sadly unrecorded.
All of which nevertheless is a welcome antidote to some of the more sanitised footballing documentaries, particularly those produced by City themselves chronicling their successes. But Kevin MacDonald, director of The Last King Of Scotland, understood there is something more interesting in watching the serial winner lose. City tasted victory in 33 games of the 2024-25 season and 30 of them are not featured. The first episode draws heavily on City’s autumnal meltdown of nine defeats in 12. The four episodes, it should be noted, contain no mention of City’s 115 charges; although, perhaps, because nothing changes.
But there are plenty of other developments. Characters are written out of the drama brutally; but some with more regret. “It kills me,” Guardiola said of the decision to release De Bruyne at the end of his contract. Chief executive Ferran Soriano added: “Kevin spoke to Pep and he understood the message but was sad about it. He really doesn’t want to go.” The midfielder goes further than before in underlining that, partly for family reasons, he wanted to stay.
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola (middle) fell out with Kyle Walker (PA Wire)
A 4-0 defeat to Tottenham was a galling experience for Pep Guardiola and his squad (Getty)
The task of rebuilding City occupies much of the club’s attention. Chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak admits that the club did too little in the transfer market during the summer of 2024, an approach Guardiola had then endorsed. “We paid a price,” he said.
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They paid in a different way afterwards: by buying more players. The challenge of replacing De Bruyne is documented. City ran 43 metrics on their software to look at prospective signings, to find No 10s with a similar profile. They alighted on Rayan Cherki, despite concerns about his character. “The information on Cherki was not so positive,” said sporting director Hugo Viana. “There was this idea he was chaotic.” Viana and his predecessor Txiki Begiristain investigated, saying the only negative reference they got about the Frenchman came when he was young, and Guardiola spoke to the playmaker on a video call to persuade him to sign.
Manchester City were not certain they should sign Rayan Cherki (PA)
Even with Cherki, however, City’s own AI quality index only rated them third favourites to win the Premier League last season. The software picked Arsenal; the computer turned out to be correct.
It proved Guardiola’s final year. “I had energy that I will not have any more,” he admitted in his belated explanation to his players. Even before then, there are a couple of clips which set up the ending and, indeed mean Guardiola was considering quitting even around the time in November 2024 when he signed his last contract.
Former Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola considered quitting the club far sooner (PA Wire)
“To lose five six seven in a row, that doesn’t happen to me,” he said. “I said to the club, ‘maybe it’s over’.”
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It wasn’t yet but Al Mubarak was accustomed to his manager contemplating his own departure. “Pep was the boy who cried wolf,” he said. And eventually City reached the point where “this time he is actually the wolf” and where, former director of football Txiki Begiristain felt, Guardiola had to discover what comes next. “He needs rest and he needs to see there is a life after football,” said his former Barcelona teammate. “If he knows only football and football people, he will be on the same rollercoaster he has been living.” Sage advice, perhaps particularly as another recent documentary showed the rival who never found that other life: Jose Mourinho.
:: A Beautiful Obsession launches exclusively on Prime Video in UK & Ireland 19 August 2026
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