A new Amazon Prime documentary series covering Pep Guardiola's last two seasons at Manchester City has revealed the depth of the falling-out between the manager and former captain Kyle Walker — including a dressing-room confrontation that Guardiola says left him "incredibly sad".

What the cameras caught

The most striking sequence comes in the days after Walker's loan move to AC Milan in January 2025. Addressing his squad ahead of a home fixture against Chelsea, Guardiola told his players: "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."

He then turned the question on the group: "What did you do my friends? What did you do with your captain?" The documentary does not spell out precisely what behaviour Guardiola found unacceptable, but an earlier scene points to one flashpoint.

The Anfield argument

Following City's defeat at Liverpool in December 2024 — a game in which Walker lost the ball to Luis Díaz, who then won a penalty — Guardiola addressed the dressing room directly: "Kyle has to know that if you lose the ball it's a goal." Walker's response was blunt: "Every meeting, it's my name."

Guardiola replied: "Maybe because you're a captain." Walker shot back: "OK. You didn't want me to be your captain." That exchange matters in context — Walker had been chosen by his City teammates as captain for the 2024-25 season, with Kevin De Bruyne, Rúben Dias, Rodri and Bernardo Silva named as vice-captains.

Immediately after that argument, the documentary shows Guardiola in tears, telling his squad: "If I'm a problem, then you have to tell me. I won't stay here just for the money. I extended the contract because I want to be here with you, I want to win a fight."

How close Guardiola came to leaving

The series also reveals that the contract extension Guardiola signed in November 2024 was far from a formality. After four consecutive defeats — the first losing run of that length in his entire managerial career — he told the club: "Maybe it's over." City chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak is shown acknowledging the gravity of the moment: "You know the boy that cried wolf? He is the boy that cried wolf. I always convince him, but last year, I knew, this time he actually saw the wolf."

Several factors complicated that period. Rodri, the 2024 Ballon d'Or winner, was sidelined long-term with injury. The club continued to operate under the shadow of 115 alleged Premier League financial rule breaches. And Guardiola was going through a divorce — a detail the series touches on even if the coach stops short of saying it affected his performance on the touchline. His mental state became a subject of public speculation in November 2024 when he appeared with scratches on his head and nose after a 3-3 Champions League draw with Feyenoord.

Walker's City record

Walker joined City from Tottenham in 2017 for £50m and made 316 appearances under Guardiola, winning six Premier League titles in that time. His final season, however, coincided with the club's worst return under the Catalan coach — City finished 2024-25 without a trophy, only the second time that has happened since Guardiola arrived in July 2016.

The documentary is directed by Kevin Macdonald and is available on Amazon Prime Video.

Frequently asked

What did Guardiola say about Kyle Walker in the documentary?
Guardiola told his players he was 'incredibly sad' about how Walker had behaved as captain, saying 'you cannot behave as a captain the way he has done it' — remarks made days after Walker joined AC Milan on loan in January 2025.
Why did Kyle Walker leave Manchester City?
Walker asked Guardiola for a move, saying he wanted a fresh challenge. He joined AC Milan on loan in January 2025 after making 316 appearances for City and winning six Premier League titles.
Where can I watch the Guardiola documentary?
The documentary series, directed by Kevin Macdonald and covering Guardiola's final two seasons at Manchester City, is available on Amazon Prime Video.