A new Amazon Prime documentary series provides an intimate look at the final two years of Pep Guardiola’s tenure at Manchester City, documenting the intense pressure, personal struggles, and internal friction that defined his closing period at the Etihad Stadium. The footage captures a manager grappling with both professional challenges and significant personal turmoil, ultimately leading to his departure at the end of the 2025-26 campaign after a decade of service.
A central focus of the series is the strained relationship between Guardiola and former captain Kyle Walker. In one notable scene, Guardiola addresses his squad, expressing that he was “incredibly sad” regarding Walker’s request to leave the club for a fresh challenge. The manager is seen telling his players, “you cannot behave” the way Walker had, emphasizing that a captain must maintain standards during the team’s most difficult moments. Walker eventually departed for AC Milan on loan in January 2025, having made 316 appearances and secured six Premier League titles since his 2017 arrival from Tottenham for £50 million.
The tension between the two was further highlighted following a loss at Anfield in December 2024. After Walker lost possession to Luis Diaz, leading to a penalty, Guardiola confronted him in the dressing room, stating, “Kyle has to know that if you lose the ball it’s a goal.” Walker retorted, “Every meeting, it’s my name,” to which Guardiola replied, “Maybe because you’re a captain.” The defender then challenged the manager, saying, “OK. You didn’t want me to be your captain.”
The documentary also reveals how close Guardiola came to leaving the club prematurely. Following a streak of four consecutive defeats in 2024, the manager admitted to director Kevin Macdonald that he had considered quitting, telling the club, “Maybe it’s over.” City chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak noted that while he had always managed to convince the coach to stay, he sensed that during that period, Guardiola “actually saw the wolf.”
Guardiola’s personal life was also in a state of flux, as he navigated a divorce during a season that saw the club struggle with poor results and the weight of 115 charges for alleged financial rule breaches. His behavior drew concern from staff and players alike, particularly after he appeared with visible scratches on his head and nose following a 3-3 draw with Feyenoord in November 2024. Manel Estiarte, a member of his technical staff, eventually had to explain to the players that their manager was “a human being” going through a divorce, urging them to understand his impulsive and intense behavior.
The series captures the manager’s raw frustration during team talks. Following a defeat to Bayer Leverkusen in November 2025, he berated the squad, stating, “I work for you and I leave my life, my divorce and my family is away and everything for all of you. And what do you give back? It’s a disgrace guys.” He further warned the team that they would “get a new manager” if performances did not improve, and at times, he expressed feeling “alone” when the players failed to meet his expectations.
Despite these difficulties, Guardiola signed a contract extension in November 2024. In the documentary, he is shown in tears while addressing his team, explaining that he chose to stay because he wanted to fight for the club rather than “run away.” He emphasized that his commitment was driven by his love for the squad, though he remained candid about his exhaustion, noting that he did not want to feel as though the “pieces were falling down.”
The club underwent a significant rebuild during the 2024 winter and summer transfer windows to refresh an aging squad. This included the departure of 35-year-old playmaker Kevin de Bruyne, who left after winning 16 trophies in 10 years, and the arrival of 22-year-old French winger Rayan Cherki for £30 million in June 2025. Sporting director Hugo Viana admitted that the club had reservations about Cherki’s attitude, noting that the information received on the player was “not so positive,” though Cherki ultimately became a standout performer with four goals and 12 assists in 33 Premier League matches.
The 2024-25 season proved particularly difficult, as City finished without a trophy for only the second time since Guardiola’s arrival in 2016. The campaign was further complicated by the long-term injury of 2024 Ballon d’Or winner Rodri. By the end of his tenure, Guardiola had secured 20 trophies with the club, including the FA Cup and League Cup in his final season.
Reflecting on his departure, Guardiola admitted uncertainty about his future, stating, “I don’t know even myself what I am going to do.” He expressed that it would be difficult to return to management immediately, as he needed to “refresh many things” regarding his personal life. The documentary serves as a stark record of a legendary manager reaching his breaking point, balancing the demands of elite football with the realities of personal hardship. The report also notes that so sad, what happened with Kyle,” he says, before a home match with Chelsea. The report also notes that it was so easy for him to come to me [and say] ‘I’m tired’. The report also notes that with four vice-captains – Kevin de Bruyne, Ruben Dias, Rodri and Bernardo Silva, the England defender was made chosen by City teammates to be captain for the 2024-25 season. The report also notes that or just for the fact to stay, i won’t stay here just for the money. The report also notes that captains first, then the other ones, for example [feel] that there’s a problem, tell me, he adds: “But if you feel. The report also notes that he is the boy that cried wolf,” the Emirati said. The report also notes that including the 115 charges for alleged breaches of Premier League financial rules hanging over the club and the long-term injury of 2024 Ballon d’Or winner Rodri, there were various mitigating circumstances for City’s disappointing campaign in 24-25. The report also notes that amid that, Guardiola’s personal life was in turmoil as he went through a divorce and there was media speculation about his mental state when the 55-year-old appeared with multiple scratches on his head and nose following a disappointing 3-3 Champions League draw with Feyenoord in November 2024.
