Guardiola-Walker fallout revealed in new documentary

Ciaran Varley - BBC Sport Journalist Tue, August 18, 2026 at 5:17 AM UTC

0

A new documentary series reveals details of Guardiola's final two seasons at Manchester City, including a bust-up with captain Kyle Walker

A new documentary shows the moment Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola told his players that he was "incredibly sad" that captain Kyle Walker had asked to leave the club.

In an emotional scene, the Spanish manager is also shown telling the players "you cannot behave" the way Walker did.

Former City defender Walker joined AC Milan on loan in January 2025, after asking his manager if he could leave the club for a fresh challenge.

A new Amazon Prime documentary series following Guardiola's final two years at the club captures the manager addressing his team just days after the defender's departure.

"So sad, what happened with Kyle," he says, before a home match with Chelsea.

"It was so easy for him to come to me [and say] 'I'm tired'. But you cannot behave as a captain the way he has done it. You cannot, in the toughest moments in our lives.

""What did you do my friends? What did you do with your captain? Tell me, what did you do?"

While it is not clear what specific behaviour from his captain Guardiola is referring to, one scene does capture an argument between the pair following a loss at Anfield in December 2024, during which Walker was at fault for losing the ball to Luis Diaz before the former Liverpool winger won a penalty.

"Kyle has to know that if you lose the ball it's a goal," Guardiola tells his dressing room afterwards, which draws an angry reaction from the defender, who says: "Every meeting, it's my name".

Guardiola's response was to say: "Maybe because you're a captain."

Walker replies: "OK. You didn't want me to be your captain".

The England defender was chosen by City teammates to be captain for the 2024-25 season, with four vice-captains - Kevin de Bruyne, Ruben Dias, Rodri and Bernardo Silva.

Shortly before that defeat to Liverpool, Guardiola signed a new contract at City , after suffering four consecutive defeats for the first time in his career.

Just after the argument with Walker, the documentary shows the Spanish coach in tears as he tells his team: "If I'm a problem, then you have to tell me.

"I won't stay here just for the money, or just for the fact to stay.

"I extended the contract because I want to be here with you, I want to win a fight in that position. I don't want to feel that I'm leaving and running away from you. I don't want to have that feeling that now the pieces fall down."

He adds: "But if you feel, captains first, then the other ones, for example [feel] that there's a problem, tell me. It's not going to change the love I have for all of you - not one second. But I want to fight. That's all. I'm sorry."

Before leaving for Milan, Walker made 316 appearances for City and won six Premier League titles under Guardiola after signing from Tottenham in 2017 for £50m.

However, his final season at Etihad Stadium was dogged by poor results as City ended the 2024-25 season trophyless - only the second time that had happened since Guardiola joined in July 2016.

Impact of Guardiola's divorce and coming close to leaving City earlier

Guardiola's mental state was questioned after scratches appeared on his nose and head during a draw with Feyenoord in November 2024

Despite signing a contract extension in November 2024, the series reveals how close Guardiola came to not renewing his deal.

In one scene, the manager reveals to director Kevin Macdonald that, after losing four games in a row in 2024, he told the club: "Maybe it's over."

In a separate scene, City chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak says that he was not sure he was going to be able to convince the legendary manager to stay at the club.

"You know the boy that cried wolf? He is the boy that cried wolf," the Emirati said.

Advertisement

"I always convince him, but last year, I knew, this time he actually saw the wolf."

There were various mitigating circumstances for City's disappointing campaign in 24-25, 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.

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.

While the coach does not admit to the idea that his personal struggles affected his ability to do his job, Manel Estiarte, a long-time member of Guardiola's technical staff, speaks about how he had to address players who were worried by their manager's behaviour.

"They were worried because Pep was anxious," he says.

"He was sad. He was different. And only I knew the reason.

"And I said to the team, 'please, you have to understand, you're not playing with a coach who can be a bit impulsive, who can be a bit intense, who can be sometimes up and down. You're seeing a human being. He's getting a divorce'."

Alongside scenes where Guardiola obsesses over tactics, there are many where he gives candid speeches and berates his team.

Following a defeat by Bayer Leverkusen in November 2025, he tells his squad: "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?

"The performance you have done, all of you. It's a disgrace guys.

"When I see that, I am exhausted, I'm drained, I want to quit. When you play like this, I feel alone."

In some scenes, the Spaniard warns his team that they will "get a new manager" if performances do not improve.

In others, he speaks about using a knife to get into their hearts and insists on his squad hugging one another and himself before matches, even blaming poor performances on lukewarm goal celebrations.

Guardiola stepped down as City manager at the end of the 25-26 campaign after 10 years at the Etihad, during which time he won 20 trophies, including both the FA Cup and League Cup in his final season.

Speaking about his next steps, he says: "I don't know even myself what I am going to do," adding: "It will be difficult to come back. That's my feeling today. I need to refresh many things that happened in my personal life."

Difficult De Bruyne exit and questions about Cherki's attitude

City embarked on a rebuild during the 2024 winter and summer transfer windows in a bid to refresh an ageing squad.

As part of that, the club brought in exciting French winger Rayan Cherki, 22, while 35-year-old playmaker Kevin de Bruyne, who won 16 trophies in 10 years at the Etihad, left the club.

It is clear in the series that De Bruyne did not want to leave and the Belgian breaks down while speaking about the impact on his family.

Guardiola describes the tough decision he had to make in letting the midfielder go.

"It kills me," he says. ""ithout Kevin, that period - forget about it. He was crying here [in the office]. Oh God. I have affection for that player. We lived incredible things together. Then you have to be more cold."

Meanwhile, sporting director Hugo Viana reveals that there were question marks over Cherki's attitude before he was signed for £30m in June 2025.

The Frenchman was chosen partly to fill De Bruyne's role, but Viana says: "The information on Cherki was not so positive, I will be very honest. Everybody knew about his abilities, but there was this idea that he was chaotic."

Cherki was one of the standout players in City's squad last season, registering four goals and 12 assists in 33 Premier League matches - the second highest number of assists in the division.

Man City move for £85m Bouaddi and still want Fernandez

Shop window or new chance - Grealish faces next chapter

Nightmare Man City start for Maresca - are Arsenal really so far ahead?

Original Article on Source

Source: “AOL Sports”