Even when signing his final new contract in November 2024, Pep Guardiola knew that change would soon be necessary at Manchester City.
Chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak could feel their time together coming to a close during a meeting in Abu Dhabi to decide on an extension amid the worst run of results throughout Guardiola’s gilded career.
The Catalan didn’t feel as if he could leave City in the lurch, that he owed it to them to oversee the start of an overhaul, although had raised the prospect of parting ways so as not to burden the hierarchy, all of whom he counts as friends, with the guilt of wielding the axe if that was their prevailing feelings.
‘At that time, I actually was not sure I was able to convince you,’ Al Mubarak tells Guardiola in the new Prime Video documentary, A Beautiful Obsession, charting the great manager’s final two years as manager.
Convince he did and Guardiola completed another 18 months from that moment. The scale of the rebuild and continued surgery to the squad became even clearer at the Community Shield on Sunday, with Enzo Maresca having a job on his hands to keep the formerly perennial champions competitive on the biggest stages.
Guardiola knew he was not the man to take that on – even if he left with a domestic double and ran Arsenal so close in the title race.
After an inconsolable Kevin De Bruyne – the club’s finest modern-day player – was left breaking down in tears on finding out City were not renewing his contract and the furious row with captain Kyle Walker in the Anfield dressing room, a moment sparking the end of his career at the top, Guardiola’s own shelf life became the prominent theme around City going into last season.
The Catalan realised it was time after a decade in charge, the four-part series revealing the way in which the manager attempted to keep the players on top, why change was ultimately required and how even dynasties can end in fraught circumstances.
Amazon Prime’s new docuseries shows why it was clear that Pep Guardiola knew change was necessary at Man City
After Kevin De Bruyne was left in tears, Guardiola’s own shelf life at City was in the spotlight
SEPTEMBER 2025
In the weeks before a huge Manchester derby victory – on the back of consecutive defeats against Tottenham and Brighton – Guardiola became obsessed with his players hugging. He had admonished the team down at the Amex Stadium for not celebrating Erling Haaland’s opening goal wildly enough, showing clips of training ground goals greeted with more gusto, and feared for the team’s bond.
‘Look, look at you in training,’ he shouted. ‘Did you do that in Brighton? Look at you celebrating. We are here in this f****** business for that. Do you feel the pressure? F****** hell, that’s what it is about. It’s nice to feel it otherwise we’re in the Maldives, all of us.’
Before they went out to face Manchester United, Guardiola demanded that everyone ‘hug each other for five seconds, so tight’. The instructions were met by bemused faces in the dressing room before being eventually followed.
Guardiola forced his stars to hug each other after being left disappointed by their lack of camaraderie at Brighton
Haaland’s double and Phil Foden’s opener downed United 3-0 but Guardiola wanted more emotion.
‘The win today comes from the hugs before,’ he said. ‘The hugs were not tight. I tried and you didn’t hug me back. I want tighter. Tight and more seconds. I want you to feel my vows to you. I am so proud of you guys and that is the start of what I’m telling you will be great season.’
He showed players the celebrations from the United match on a big screen before they met Napoli a few days later, to continue promoting togetherness and spirit. ‘F*** that is so nice,’ he told them while watching the footage, played to a Bee Gees backing track. Players grinned.
NOVEMBER 2025
Guardiola stalks the Etihad dressing room. He’s made ten changes for a Champions League tie with Bayer Leverkusen, a decision aimed at allowing players who lack minutes to prove a point to him. It backfires spectacularly, Leverkusen winning 2-0. The fortunes of Oscar Bobb, Rico Lewis, Tijjani Reijnders, Savinho and Nico Gonzalez never recover under this manager.
The monologue Guardiola goes on to deliver is a remarkable display and cuts to the heart of his man-management across two decades in coaching.
‘F****** hell guys, everyone has to feel that “I’m going to show them that I’m the best, I’m going to show this f****** b****** manager than the other guys”. It’s a competition between each other and where was the competition today? I feel sad.
‘I feel disappointed in myself for the incredibly stupid things I try to do to make you safe, secure and confident. I feel f****** stupid. I arrived here at eight o’clock in the morning guys. I stayed hours and hours trying to find something to arrive here in your heart. In your heart. And when I don’t get it, it’s frustrating personally.
‘You don’t give back guys. You know what’s going to happen? You will have another manager. When I see one [sad] f****** face at the end of the season, I kill you. When I see your f****** face complaining for something when I make my decisions, I f****** kill you.
Guardiola launched an impassioned rant at his stars following their defeat by Bayer Leverkusen
The City boss’ decision to heavily rotate his team backfired spectacularly at the Etihad
‘Work harder, work better, live better. You can lose games and I defend you many times but it’s unacceptable this lack of courage, passion and love and desire to win.
‘When I say hi, you say hi to me. When I hug you, you hug me. I live my life, my divorce… and my family is away for all of you. What do you give back? The f****** performance you have done, all of you. It’s a disgrace, guys.
‘F****** hell, I am really f****** tired. When I see that, I’m exhausted. Drained. I want to quit. I feel alone. When you play like this, I feel alone. Tomorrow you will not see me. Have a lovely two days. I’m going to the media to defend you.’
TWO DAYS AFTER THE LEVERKUSEN DEFEAT
Al Mubarak and chief executive Ferran Soriano exchange voice notes about the Leverkusen debacle – and for them, the blame lies squarely at the feet of their illustrious manager. It is exceptionally rare for there to be such overt criticism of Guardiola.
Soriano to Al Mubarak: ‘I think our attitude with Pep should not be too negative. It doesn’t work with him. But it shouldn’t be too kind or accommodating either. This is his mistake this time.’
Al Mubarak to Soriano: ‘To pick an entire new team on a game this important is probably one of the lowest points we’ve had. I can’t speak to him, honestly. I didn’t speak to him yesterday. I didn’t message him. I’m so angry. He’s put a mix in this that is just so unnecessary.’
The defeat contributes to City being pitted against Real Madrid and crashing out of Europe before the quarter-finals for a second consecutive season. City have won only one Champions League knockout tie since completing the Treble in 2023.
City chief Khaldoon Al Mubarak expressed disappointment at Guardiola’s decision making in the defeat by Leverkusen
MAY 2026
Two days before the final game of the season. Daily Mail Sport has already revealed that Guardiola is leaving in the summer – those who needed to know were officially notified in early April – but he has yet to confirm it to his staff and players.
In an auditorium used thousands of times during his ten years, Guardiola delivers one final video and one final speech. He uses a montage of clips from across the decade with a pre-recorded message over the top, one where he references the poet Tony Walsh and will be shown to supporters after the defeat by Aston Villa that weekend.
He hums nervously as he enters a packed theatre, standing room only. Anybody who is anybody in the building is there. He wants to get the preamble over and done with quickly.
‘Guys, this will be quick,’ he says. ‘Sunday will be my last game as manager of this club. The reason is simple: to go to Selhurst Park, Anfield, League One in the FA Cup – Madrid, Madrid, Madrid – to deal with adorable players that we have, you have to have something that I had – the energy.
‘But deep inside, I know I will not have it anymore.
‘I’m leaving with an incredible gratitude and happiness for all of you. In a few minutes, our fans will know about my departure and before this is released, you deserve to be the first to hear something that I think is better than my words.
‘I need the hugs and kisses. Don’t forget it.’
Guardiola looks like he is darting for the exit before the tape rolls but stands at the back, surveying the scene, his final meaningful act inside the training ground: watching for the human emotion of those around him in a way he has done countless times before.
A Beautiful Obsession launches exclusively on Prime Video in UK & Ireland August 19, 2026
