Pep Guardiola’s Turbulent End at Manchester City: Clash with Captain Kyle Walker

During the autumn of 2024 Manchester City endured a severe dip in form, losing nine of 13 league matches and winning only once. The slump culminated in a 3-3 draw with Feyenoord after surrendering a 3-0 lead in the Champions League, a moment captured in the Amazon Prime documentary *A Beautiful Obsession*. In the dressing-room, Guardiola confronted captain Kyle Walker, who accused the manager of repeatedly singling him out. The tension resurfaced after a 2-0 Champions League defeat to Bayer Leverkusen in November 2025, when Guardiola’s decision to make ten changes back-fired and he threatened to quit.

The Guardian

Guardiola’s tenure at the Etihad Stadium spanned ten seasons and yielded 20 trophies, establishing him as one of the most successful managers in English football. The 2024-25 period marked the lowest point of that reign, with the team’s performance described as “a disgrace” by the manager himself. The documentary shows Guardiola’s visible strain, including a moment when he scratched his face after the Feyenoord collapse.

The Guardian

Chief executive Ferran Soriano advised that the club’s response should avoid being “too negative or aggressive” while also not being “too kind or accommodating.”

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• “Every fucking meeting it’s my name. You’ve somehow brought my name into it.” — Kyle Walker

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• “If I am a problem you have to tell me,” — Pep Guardiola

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• 20 trophies won over a 10-year spell.

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• Autumn 2024 run: 9 defeats, 1 victory in 13 games.

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• Champions League draw: 3-3 after a 3-0 lead surrendered.

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• November 2025 loss: 2-0 to Bayer Leverkusen after 10 lineup changes.

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The documentary provides a rare, behind-the-scenes look at the pressures that led Guardiola to step down at the end of the season, marking the end of an era for Manchester City.

The Guardian