Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola revealed his divorce from his wife, Cristina Serra, to his players as a means of motivation during a challenging period in the 2024-25 season. The admission, made during a team talk after a 2-0 loss to Juventus in the Champions League, is featured in the Prime Video documentary 'A Beautiful Obsession,' which chronicles Guardiola's final two years at the club.
During a stretch where Manchester City experienced a run of nine defeats in 12 games, Guardiola shared his personal struggles with his squad. "I'm f***ing divorced from the most beautiful woman in your planet. My wife. My ex-wife," he told his players, according to the documentary. "I love her unbelievably! But we lost the passion. For many reasons, we lost the passion."
Guardiola emphasized the importance of passion in performance, questioning his players' drive. "How do you play football? Because you [just] play or because you have something inside? Where is the passion? In your life, whatever you are going to do, do it with passion. I don't want good players. I want players with passion."
The news of his divorce became public weeks after this private admission to the team. Guardiola and Serra had been together for 30 years and married in 2014. They share three children. Serra had moved back to Barcelona with their youngest daughter, Valentina, in 2019, and the couple lived apart for five years prior to their divorce.
Manel Estiarte, a confidante of Guardiola and head of player protocol, explained the significance of the manager showing his human side. "Because they were worried because Pep was anxious. He was sad. He was different. And only I knew the reason," Estiarte said of the players' concern. "And I said to them, 'please you have to understand. You're not playing with a coach who can be a bit impulsive, who can be a bit intense. You're seeing a human being. He's getting a divorce.'"
The documentary also captures Guardiola referencing his divorce following another difficult match, a 2-0 defeat by Bayer Leverkusen in which he had made significant changes to the lineup. "I live my life, my divorce… and my family is away for all of you. What do you give back? The f****** performance you have done, all of you. It's a disgrace, guys," he stated after the game.
Manchester City eventually secured a top-three finish and reached the FA Cup final during the 2024-25 season, despite the team's mid-season struggles and the manager's personal turmoil. 'A Beautiful Obsession' is set to launch on Prime Video in the UK and Ireland on August 19, 2026.