Manchester City’s new fly-on-the-wall documentary details the behind the scenes moments from Pep Guardiola and his players that drove them to a fourth successive Premier League title
Manchester City’s new fly-on-the-wall documentary details the behind the scenes moments from Pep Guardiola and his players that drove them to a fourth successive Premier League title Manchester City’s new fly-on-the-wall documentary details the behind the scenes moments from Pep Guardiola and his players that drove them to a fourth successive Premier League title
Pep Guardiola turned on the hairdryer and the tears when he led Manchester City to a record-breaking fourth consecutive Premier League title last season.
Guardiola may be lauded for being a tactical genius, but a new fly-on-the-wall documentary shows the Catalan losing his temper with Etihad stars like Erling Haaland, Phil Foden and Rodri during a campaign that ended with the Blues prevailing over Arsenal in a race that went all the way to the final day.
Haaland and Foden are seen being berated in the dressing room at half-time for missing golden chances in the Manchester derby before both players scored in a stirring fightback that saw City come from behind to beat their rivals 3-1.
Foden had been given a cruel tongue-lashing earlier in the season for giving away a last-minute penalty against Crystal Palace as the Blues squandered a two-goal lead to drop two priceless points. And there is also footage of Rodri issuing an apology to his team-mates after being sent off against Nottingham Forest after being urged by his manager to explain his moment of madness.
Haaland ended the season with a second successive Golden Boot as well as a title medal. Foden was named footballer of the year by both the FWA and PFA, while Rodri became the first-ever City player to win the Ballon d’Or.
Guardiola admits in an interview during the in-house documentary ’Together’ 4-In-A-Row’ that he often feels ashamed about the way he rants at his players.
Guardiola says: “I’m not proud right after the game when I’m angry for my emotions and I do it to the players. I’m a human and I don’t like it. In that moment, I can’t control myself.”
What is clear during the 90-minute documentary is how driven Guardiola is to create history with City. This week he will sign a new contract to bring his Etihad reign to 10 years – and the deal will also include an option for a further 12-month extension to 2027.
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Guardiola had a sign put up in the boot room that read: “No team has ever won four Premier League titles – yet.”
At one point, after a late Trent Alexander-Arnold equaliser saw City drop two points at home, he rages: “The top level is that. Understand, my friends, that’s why no-one has ever won four Premier Leagues in a row – because it’s so difficult.”
But the film also illustrates the complex character that makes the 53-year-old a genius. “In seven years, I have never been so proud of you as I am today,” Guardiola tells his team after the cruel Champions League penalty shoot-out defeat to Real Madrid. “Thank you so, so much, guys.”
And in the aftermath of the Manchester derby win over United, he wipes away an unashamed flood of tears with a towel after bringing the club’s popular head of facilities boss Clive Wilton into the dressing room to inform the players that he had been diagnosed with cancer.
On the eve of the title-clinching victory over West Ham on the final day, Guardiola summoned every member of staff – including chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak and chief executive Ferran Soriano – to show them film footage of the most decisive moments of the season. He then walks out of the room without saying a word.
Khaldoon says: “Emotional without words. To me that’s what makes him (Guardiola) so great. The ability to read the room, read his players and read what was needed in that moment. That’s the magic.”
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