Man City documentary reveals Guardiola’s ‘I want to quit’ moment

Pep Guardiola's tenure at Manchester City, particularly his final years, is laid bare in a new Amazon Prime documentary that chronicles his emotional journey and clashes with players. The film reveals moments where the celebrated manager fought back tears, questioned his own future at the club, and confronted his squad during a turbulent period that preceded his eventual departure after a decade.

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So sad, what happened with Kyle. 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?

One particularly striking segment focuses on the fallout with then-captain Kyle Walker. Ahead of Walker's loan move to AC Milan in January 2025, Guardiola expressed deep disappointment over the defender's conduct. "So sad, what happened with Kyle," Guardiola is heard saying. "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?"

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Kyle has to know that if you lose the ball it’s a goal.

The documentary also captures a heated dressing room exchange following City's defeat by Liverpool in December 2024. After Walker lost possession leading to a Liverpool penalty, Guardiola criticized the defender sharply. "Kyle has to know that if you lose the ball it’s a goal," Guardiola stated furiously. An irritated Walker responded, "Every meeting, it’s my name." Guardiola retorted, "Maybe because you’re a captain." Walker then shot back, "OK. You didn’t want me to be your captain."

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Every meeting, it’s my name.

This confrontation occurred during a difficult phase for Guardiola, who had just experienced his first-ever four-game losing streak as a manager. Despite signing a contract extension in November 2024, the documentary reveals he seriously contemplated leaving. Chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak acknowledged the situation, describing it as a genuine concern and noting, "I always convince him, but last year, I knew, this time he actually saw the wolf." Adding to his personal strain, Guardiola was also navigating the breakdown of his marriage during the 2024-25 campaign. His long-time colleague Manel Estiarte shared that players were worried about Guardiola's emotional state, observing, "They were worried because Pep was anxious. He was sad. He was different. And only I knew the reason."

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Maybe because you’re a captain.