Documentary lifts the curtain on Man City's backstage: Pep Guardiola's fury & the obsession with hugs

Forced hugs, locker room outbursts, and the moment Manchester City's leadership began to doubt Pep Guardiola himself are being revealed in Amazon Prime's new documentary series. Through it, fans get a chance to see a very different Guardiola: exhausted, isolated, and realizing that a decade-long reign at the Etihad needs to come to an end.

When Pep Guardiola signed a new contract with Manchester City in November 2024, the Spanish manager already knew that a major change was inevitable.

Not because he had fallen out of love with Man City. Nor because past successes had become ancient history. Guardiola simply realized that after nearly a decade, he himself might no longer be the right person to lead the team's rebuild.

The four-part documentary series "A Beautiful Obsession" by Amazon Prime has unveiled stories never seen by the public about Guardiola's final two years at Man City. It is an emotional journey in which the manager who once took the club to the pinnacle of Europe must face the toughest question: when should a dynasty end?

Guardiola once proactively raised the possibility of parting ways

Even when he put pen to paper on his final new contract with Manchester City in November 2024, Pep Guardiola already understood that a major overhaul at the Etihad was bound to become unavoidable.

During a meeting in Abu Dhabi to discuss the contract extension, while Man City was enduring the worst run of results in Guardiola's illustrious coaching career, Chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak also sensed that their long-standing partnership might be entering its final chapters.

Guardiola did not want to leave Man City when the team was in a difficult phase. He felt a responsibility to stay and personally lay the first bricks for the rebuilding process. But at the same time, the Catalan manager also proactively mentioned the possibility of leaving, because he did not want those he considered friends in the leadership to be put in an awkward position or feel guilty if one day they had to make the decision to sack him.

"At that time, I honestly wasn't sure if I could convince you or not," Al Mubarak said to Guardiola in the documentary.

In the end, Guardiola stayed for another 18 months. But as time went on, the scale of the overhaul at the Etihad became increasingly clear. The squad that had dominated English and European football needed a deep restructuring, both in personnel and competitive energy. Guardiola admitted he was not the right person to take on that job.

Signs of a closing cycle appeared more and more frequently. Kevin De Bruyne – one of the biggest icons of Man City under Guardiola – broke down in tears when he learned the club would not renew his contract. Then came the heated argument between Guardiola and captain Kyle Walker in the locker room at Anfield, an incident seen as a sign that cracks were beginning to appear in the once nearly invincible empire.

The obsession with hugs

One of the most notable details in the film occurs in September 2025.

In the weeks leading up to the resounding victory in the Manchester derby – following two consecutive defeats to Tottenham and Brighton – Guardiola became obsessed with the players hugging each other. He scolded the entire team after the match at the Amex for not celebrating Erling Haaland's opening goal with more enthusiasm, and showed them video clips of training ground goals celebrated with much greater excitement, thereby expressing his concern about the team's bond.

"Look back at yourselves in training," he shouted. "Did you do that at Brighton? Look at how you celebrated. We're in this bloody business for those moments. Are you feeling the pressure? Damn it, that's football. It's great to feel it; otherwise, we might as well all go relax in the Maldives."

Before stepping onto the pitch against Manchester United, Guardiola demanded that everyone "hug each other for five seconds, really tight." This instruction was met with bewildered faces in the locker room before finally being complied with.

A brace from Haaland and an opening goal from Phil Foden defeated MU 3-0, but Guardiola still wanted more emotion. "Today's victory came from those pre-match hugs," he said. "Those hugs weren't tight enough. I initiated the hug, but you didn't hug me back. I want it tighter. Tighter and longer. I want you to feel my commitment to you. I'm very proud of you, and that's the start of what I insist will be a great season."

He showed the players replays of the celebration moments from the Man United match on a big screen a few days later as they prepared to face Napoli, to further promote team spirit. "Damn, how wonderful is that," he said to the players while watching the footage set to the music of the Bee Gees. The players beamed with smiles.

The fury in the locker room

Two months later, in November 2025, Man City lost to Bayer Leverkusen.

Guardiola paced angrily in the locker room at the Etihad. He had made up to 10 changes to the lineup for the Champions League match against Bayer Leverkusen. The decision to give opportunities to less-frequently-used players to prove their worth backfired miserably. Leverkusen won 2-0. The fates of Oscar Bobb, Rico Lewis, Tijjani Reijnders, Savinho, and Nico Gonzalez never recovered under this manager.

After the match, Guardiola entered the locker room and delivered one of the fiercest speeches of his career. He questioned the players about their competitive desire and demanded they prove they deserved to play.

Guardiola admitted he was disappointed in himself for spending too much time trying to make the players feel safe and confident. But what he got back was a performance that made him feel betrayed.

"Damn you, everyone must have the mindset 'I'll show them I'm the best, I'll show this damn coach that I'm better than the others.' That's competition between individuals. Where was that competition today? I feel sad.

I feel disappointed in myself for the incredibly stupid things I've tried to do to keep you safe, secure, and confident. I feel like an idiot. I've been here since 8 in the morning. I stayed for hours trying to find something that could touch your hearts. Get into your hearts. And when I don't get that back, I feel deeply frustrated.

You give nothing back. Do you know what happens next? You'll get another coach. When I see some damn sad face at the end of the season, I'll deal with you. When I see your damn faces daring to complain about something when I make a decision, I'll deal with you cleanly.

Work harder, work better, live better. You can lose a match, and I've defended you many times, but this lack of courage, passion, love, and desire to win is completely unacceptable.

When I greet you, you must greet me back. When I hug you, you must hug me back. I'm living my life, my divorce… and my family has to stay away from all of this because of you. And what do you give back? The damn performance you just all put on. It's a disgrace, boys.

Damn it, I'm really tired. When I see this, I'm completely exhausted. Drained of energy. I want to give up. I feel lonely. When you play like this, I feel lonely. You won't see me tomorrow. Enjoy your two days off. I'll go out to the media and defend you."

That was a rare moment when Guardiola exposed his exhaustion behind the facade of a manager who always has everything under control.

Two days after the loss to Leverkusen, Chairman Al Mubarak and CEO Ferran Soriano exchanged voice messages. For them, the fault was entirely Guardiola's. It was extremely rare to see such strong public criticism directed at Guardiola.

"I think our attitude towards Pep shouldn't be too negative. That approach doesn't work with him. But also not too kind or accommodating. This time it's his fault," read Soriano's message to Al Mubarak. Al Mubarak replied to Soriano: "Choosing an entirely new lineup for such an important match is probably one of the worst moments we've ever experienced. Honestly, I can't talk to him. I didn't speak to him yesterday. I didn't even text. I'm very angry. He created a completely unnecessary disturbance."

This defeat contributed to Man City having to face Real Madrid and being eliminated from European competition before the quarter-finals for the second consecutive year. Man City has won only one knockout match in the Champions League since completing the historic treble in 2023. That was a clear sign that the empire that once dominated Europe was beginning to show cracks.

The farewell

In May 2026, just two days before the final match of the season, Guardiola walked into the familiar auditorium at Man City's training center. He had decided to leave the club. Those who needed to know had been officially informed since early April, but he had not yet confirmed it to his staff and players.

Guardiola used a video montage of memorable moments from nearly a decade leading Man City. Then he entered the packed room.

"I'll be quick", Guardiola began. "This Sunday will be my last match as manager of this club. The reason is simple: to come away to Selhurst Park, Anfield, to play in League One in the FA Cup - to face Real Madrid time and again, to work with the lovely players we have, that you have, you need something I once had – that is energy.

But deep down, I know I no longer have that energy.

I leave with immense gratitude and happiness for all of you. In just a few minutes, our fans will know about my departure, and before that is announced, you deserve to be the first to hear something better than my words.

I need hugs and kisses. Don't forget that.".

After the farewell, Guardiola seemed to want to quickly leave the room. But then he stood back, observing those around him.

That was also the final, meaningful image of Guardiola at Man City's training center: a manager who spent a decade observing every tiny detail of the team, now standing silently watching the emotions of the people who had accompanied him on the greatest journey in the club's history.

Guardiola left Man City not because he had failed. He left after transforming Man City from a force in English football into one of the greatest teams in the world. But the documentary reveals a different truth: even the greatest dynasties must come to an end. Guardiola understood that before others realized it. He saw the fatigue in himself, the changing locker room, the departure of icons, and the signs that the team needed a deep overhaul.