PEP Guardiola shared his emotional struggle regarding his marital separation with his Manchester City players during a passionate team meeting, emphasizing the need for the “passion” he felt had diminished, as indicated in an upcoming documentary.
After a loss in the Champions League, he opens up to the team: “Guys – I want to confess something.”
Pep Guardiola revealed his divorce from Cristina Serra during an intense team conversation, with the couple pictured together at Wimbledon in 2024Credit: RexThe former Man City manager speaks to his squad in the locker room, insisting they show the ‘passion’ he felt was lackingCredit: 2026 Manchester City
“I’m f***ing divorced from the most beautiful woman on earth. She is my wife – my ex-wife. I love her dearly. But we lost the passion.”
“For various reasons, we lost the passion. I hold deep affection for her.”
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“She loves me, yes, but we lost the passion. It’s connected to how you execute football. You play with something inside you — but where is that passion?”
“In anything you choose to do in life, do it with passion. I don’t just want good players; I want players who bring passion.”
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Guardiola during a television interview, showing visible scratch marks on his faceCredit: Refer to sourceThe documentary features his reflections on heartbreak following a 2-0 defeat against Bayer Leverkusen in November 2025Credit: The Times
Guardiola delves into his heartache following his December 2024 divorce from Cristina Serra in the four-part series “A Beautiful Obsession,” which premieres tomorrow on Amazon’s Prime Video.
His team had just faced a 2-0 defeat to Italian giants Juventus. A few weeks earlier, he raised eyebrows during an interview where he appeared with nervous scratches on his face.
The Spaniard, who resigned as City manager at the end of last season, had been married for ten years.
Cristina moved to Manchester with their three children when he took the managerial position at City in 2016.
Guardiola celebrates with Cristina and their daughter Maria following City’s UEFA Champions League final victory for the 2022/23 seasonGettyCristina reportedly felt betrayed when Guardiola seemingly went against their plans to leave City, signing a contract extension in November 2024 insteadManchester City FC
Problems began emerging in 2019 when the designer returned to Barcelona, leaving Guardiola alone in a downtown apartment.
It is believed she was further upset when he went back on plans to leave City, opting to extend his contract in November 2024.
News of their separation was first reported by Spanish media in January 2025. The documentary captures him discussing his emotional struggles again after a 2-0 home loss to Bayer Leverkusen in November 2025.
He expresses to his players: “I leave my own life, my divorce, and my family is far away — and everything for all of you.”
The couple during happier timesGettyThe Spaniard, who stepped down as City manager at the end of the previous season, had been married for a decadeCredit: Alamy
“And what do you give back? The f***ing performance you just delivered — all of you.”
“It’s disgraceful, guys, and you know what comes next. You will have a different manager.”
A source mentioned: “The footage showcases the depth of Pep’s feelings for Cristina.”
Guardiola, now 55, is thought to still hold hope for reconciliation with Cristina, aged 53.
Guardiola reveals his heartache over his December 2024 divorce from Cristina Serra in the four-part series “A Beautiful Obsession,” launching on Amazon’s Prime Video tomorrowCredit: AlamyCristina moved to Manchester with their three children when Guardiola accepted the position at City in 2016Manchester City FC
Spanish journalist Lorena Vazquez noted: “They are keeping the door open for the possibility of reconciliation. It could be that one day, when Pep retires and returns to Barcelona, they might rekindle their relationship.”
Additionally, Guardiola’s close associate Manuel Estiarte, City’s director of First Team Operations, emphasizes the importance of players understanding what their manager has been experiencing.
He states: “I told the team, ‘Please, you must understand. You’re not working with a coach who can be impulsive or occasionally inconsistent.
“You’re dealing with a human being. He’s undergoing a divorce. This is a sensitive topic — one I prefer to avoid discussing in detail.
“However, it was crucial for the team to see Pep not just as a manager but, for the first time, as a person.”
The scene transitions to Guardiola in an interview within his office. He remarks: “Recently, I’ve made numerous changes in my life, right? I’ve been through a divorce and need to find some stability.”
When the interviewer asks, “So, are you a happy man?” he responds: “In my work, yes.”
