Pep Guardiola’s private doubts exposed as Manchester City documentary revisits crisis

Pep Guardiola told Manchester City’s players “maybe it was over” after a run of four successive defeats left him questioning whether his time at the club had come to an end, a new Amazon Prime documentary reveals.

The film offers an insight into one of the most difficult periods of Guardiola’s Manchester City career, including a strained relationship with former captain Kyle Walker and the emotional circumstances surrounding the manager’s decision to sign a new contract.

Guardiola spoke to the squad before a match against Chelsea, shortly after Walker joined AC Milan on loan in January 2025. The manager expressed his sadness at the way the defender’s time at the club had ended, while also criticising Walker for not speaking to him directly about his situation.

“What a sad thing what happened with Kyle,” Guardiola told his players.

He suggested Walker could have approached him to explain that he was tired or wanted a new experience, before questioning the former captain’s conduct.

“You cannot be captain and behave the way you did, you cannot, especially in the most difficult moments of our lives,” Guardiola said.

He then turned his attention to the rest of the dressing room and asked: “What did you do, my friends? What did you do with your captain?”

The documentary does not make clear exactly which action had angered Guardiola. However, it also records a heated exchange between the manager and Walker after Manchester City’s defeat by Liverpool in December 2024.

Walker lost possession to Luis Diaz during that match, with the incident eventually leading to a Liverpool penalty. Guardiola later criticised him in the dressing room and told the players they had to understand the consequences of losing the ball in such a dangerous area.

Guardiola said giving the ball away meant the team would concede. Walker responded angrily: “In every meeting, I’m called out.”

“Maybe because you’re the captain,” Guardiola replied.

Walker answered: “Well, you didn’t want me to be your captain.”

Walker had been selected by his team-mates as Manchester City captain for the 2024-25 season. Kevin De Bruyne, Ruben Dias, Rodri and Bernardo Silva shared the vice-captaincy.

Guardiola considered leaving

The dispute took place as Guardiola was enduring an unprecedented run of poor results at Manchester City. The four-match losing streak was the first of his managerial career and came as pressure grew around the team’s performances.

The documentary shows Guardiola admitting that, after those defeats, he told the club’s board that his journey with Manchester City might have reached its conclusion.

“Maybe it’s over,” he said.

Guardiola signed a new deal with Manchester City in November 2024, but the film highlights how difficult the decision to continue had been. Club chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak also acknowledged that he was not certain he could persuade the manager to stay.

In another emotional scene, Guardiola appeared close to tears while speaking to his players. He explained that extending his contract was not motivated by money or a desire to remain simply for the sake of it. Instead, he wanted to continue fighting alongside the squad and recover the team’s competitive strength.

“I extended the contract because I want to be here with you, I want to win a battle in this position. I don’t want to feel like I’m leaving and running away from you,” Guardiola said.

He added: “If you feel, the captains first and then the rest, that there is a problem, tell me. It will not change my love for all of you for a moment. I want to fight, that’s all.”

Manel Estiarte, one of Guardiola’s closest members of staff, said the manager’s difficulties had also affected his personal life. Players noticed a clear change in his behaviour and became concerned because he appeared sad and unlike his usual self.

Estiarte said he told the squad they needed to see the person behind the manager, as Guardiola was experiencing difficult personal circumstances following his divorce.

Manchester City ended the 2024-25 season without competing for any major trophy. The campaign was one of the most challenging since Guardiola arrived at the club in 2016, with Rodri missing for a lengthy period through injury and pressure continuing over the financial cases facing Manchester City.

Despite those difficulties, Guardiola chose to remain. The crisis that had brought him close to leaving instead became the beginning of another chapter, with the documentary presenting a rare view of the doubts, arguments and emotion behind one of English football’s most successful managerial eras.