Even when signing his last new contract in November 2024, Pep Guardiola knew that change would quickly be obligatory at Manchester Metropolis.
Chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak might really feel their time collectively coming to a detailed throughout a gathering in Abu Dhabi to resolve on an extension amid the worst run of outcomes all through Guardiola’s gilded profession.
The Catalan didn’t really feel as if he might go away Metropolis within the lurch, that he owed it to them to supervise the beginning of an overhaul, though had raised the prospect of parting methods in order to not burden the hierarchy, all of whom he counts as associates, with the guilt of wielding the axe if that was their prevailing emotions.
‘At the moment, I truly was unsure I used to be in a position to persuade you,’ Al Mubarak tells Guardiola within the new Prime Video documentary, A Stunning Obsession, charting the nice supervisor’s last two years as supervisor.
Persuade he did and Guardiola accomplished one other 18 months from that second. The size of the rebuild and continued surgical procedure to the squad turned even clearer on the Group Defend on Sunday, with Enzo Maresca having a job on his arms to maintain the previously perennial champions aggressive on the largest phases.
Guardiola knew he was not the person to take that on – even when he left with a home double and ran Arsenal so shut within the title race.
After an inconsolable Kevin De Bruyne – the membership’s most interesting modern-day participant – was left breaking down in tears on discovering out Metropolis weren’t renewing his contract and the livid row with captain Kyle Walker within the Anfield dressing room, a second sparking the top of his profession on the high, Guardiola’s personal shelf life turned the distinguished theme round Metropolis going into final season.
The Catalan realised it was time after a decade in cost, the four-part collection revealing the way in which wherein the supervisor tried to maintain the gamers on high, why change was finally required and the way even dynasties can finish in fraught circumstances.
Amazon Prime’s new docuseries exhibits why it was clear that Pep Guardiola knew change was obligatory at Man Metropolis
After Kevin De Bruyne was left in tears, Guardiola’s personal shelf life at Metropolis was within the highlight
SEPTEMBER 2025
Within the weeks earlier than an enormous Manchester derby victory – on the again of consecutive defeats in opposition to Tottenham and Brighton – Guardiola turned obsessed together with his gamers hugging. He had admonished the staff down on the Amex Stadium for not celebrating Erling Haaland’s opening objective wildly sufficient, exhibiting clips of coaching floor targets greeted with extra gusto, and feared for the staff’s bond.
‘Look, take a look at you in coaching,’ he shouted. ‘Did you try this in Brighton? Take a look at you celebrating. We’re right here on this f****** enterprise for that. Do you’re feeling the stress? F****** hell, that’s what it’s about. It’s good to really feel it in any other case we’re within the Maldives, all of us.’
Earlier than they went out to face Manchester United, Guardiola demanded that everybody ‘hug one another for 5 seconds, so tight’. The directions have been met by bemused faces within the dressing room earlier than being ultimately adopted.
Guardiola compelled his stars to hug one another after being left dissatisfied by their lack of camaraderie at Brighton
Haaland’s double and Phil Foden’s opener downed United 3-0 however Guardiola needed extra emotion.
‘The win at present comes from the hugs earlier than,’ he mentioned. ‘The hugs weren’t tight. I attempted and also you didn’t hug me again. I need tighter. Tight and extra seconds. I need you to really feel my vows to you. I’m so happy with you guys and that’s the begin of what I’m telling you can be nice season.’
He confirmed gamers the celebrations from the United match on an enormous display screen earlier than they met Napoli just a few days later, to proceed selling togetherness and spirit. ‘F*** that’s so good,’ he informed them whereas watching the footage, performed to a Bee Gees backing observe. Gamers grinned.
NOVEMBER 2025
Guardiola stalks the Etihad dressing room. He’s made ten adjustments for a Champions League tie with Bayer Leverkusen, a call aimed toward permitting gamers who lack minutes to show a degree to him. It backfires spectacularly, Leverkusen profitable 2-0. The fortunes of Oscar Bobb, Rico Lewis, Tijjani Reijnders, Savinho and Nico Gonzalez by no means recuperate below this supervisor.
The monologue Guardiola goes on to ship is a outstanding show and cuts to the center of his man-management throughout 20 years in teaching.
‘F****** hell guys, everybody has to really feel that “I’m going to point out them that I’m one of the best, I’m going to point out this f****** b****** supervisor than the opposite guys”. It’s a contest between one another and the place was the competitors at present? I really feel unhappy.
‘I really feel dissatisfied in myself for the extremely silly issues I attempt to do to make you protected, safe and assured. I really feel f****** silly. I arrived right here at eight o’clock within the morning guys. I stayed hours and hours looking for one thing to reach right here in your coronary heart. In your coronary heart. And once I don’t get it, it’s irritating personally.
‘You don’t give again guys. You realize what’s going to occur? You should have one other supervisor. After I see one [sad] f****** face on the finish of the season, I kill you. After I see your f****** face complaining for one thing once I make my selections, I f****** kill you.
Guardiola launched an impassioned rant at his stars following their defeat by Bayer Leverkusen
The Metropolis boss’ resolution to closely rotate his staff backfired spectacularly on the Etihad
‘Work more durable, work higher, dwell higher. You’ll be able to lose video games and I defend you a lot occasions nevertheless it’s unacceptable this lack of braveness, ardour and love and want to win.
‘After I say hello, you say hello to me. After I hug you, you hug me. I dwell my life, my divorce… and my household is away for all of you. What do you give again? The f****** efficiency you have got performed, all of you. It’s a shame, guys.
‘F****** hell, I’m actually f****** drained. After I see that, I’m exhausted. Drained. I need to give up. I really feel alone. If you play like this, I really feel alone. Tomorrow you’ll not see me. Have a beautiful two days. I’m going to the media to defend you.’
TWO DAYS AFTER THE LEVERKUSEN DEFEAT
Al Mubarak and chief government Ferran Soriano change voice notes in regards to the Leverkusen debacle – and for them, the blame lies squarely on the ft of their illustrious supervisor. It’s exceptionally uncommon for there to be such overt criticism of Guardiola.
Soriano to Al Mubarak: ‘I feel our perspective with Pep shouldn’t be too destructive. It doesn’t work with him. Nevertheless it shouldn’t be too sort or accommodating both. That is his mistake this time.’
Al Mubarak to Soriano: ‘To select a complete new staff on a recreation this vital might be one of many lowest factors we’ve had. I can’t converse to him, truthfully. I didn’t converse to him yesterday. I didn’t message him. I’m so offended. He’s put a mixture on this that’s simply so pointless.’
The defeat contributes to Metropolis being pitted in opposition to Actual Madrid and crashing out of Europe earlier than the quarter-finals for a second consecutive season. Metropolis have received just one Champions League knockout tie since finishing the Treble in 2023.
Metropolis chief Khaldoon Al Mubarak expressed disappointment at Guardiola’s resolution making within the defeat by Leverkusen
MAY 2026
Two days earlier than the ultimate recreation of the season. Every day Mail Sport has already revealed that Guardiola is leaving in the summertime – those that wanted to know have been formally notified in early April – however he has but to substantiate it to his workers and gamers.
In an auditorium used hundreds of occasions throughout his ten years, Guardiola delivers one last video and one last speech. He makes use of a montage of clips from throughout the last decade with a pre-recorded message excessive, one the place he references the poet Tony Walsh and might be proven to supporters after the defeat by Aston Villa that weekend.
He hums nervously as he enters a packed theatre, standing room solely. Anyone who’s anyone within the constructing is there. He needs to get the preamble over and performed with rapidly.
‘Guys, this might be fast,’ he says. ‘Sunday might be my final recreation as supervisor of this membership. The reason being easy: to go to Selhurst Park, Anfield, League One within the FA Cup – Madrid, Madrid, Madrid – to cope with lovely gamers that now we have, you must have one thing that I had – the power.
‘However deep inside, I do know I can’t have it anymore.
‘I’m leaving with an unbelievable gratitude and happiness for all of you. In a couple of minutes, our followers will learn about my departure and earlier than that is launched, you should be the primary to listen to one thing that I feel is healthier than my phrases.
‘I would like the hugs and kisses. Don’t neglect it.’
Guardiola appears to be like like he’s darting for the exit earlier than the tape rolls however stands on the again, surveying the scene, his last significant act contained in the coaching floor: looking ahead to the human emotion of these round him in a method he has performed numerous occasions earlier than.
A Stunning Obsession launches solely on Prime Video in UK & Eire August 19, 2026
