A new documentary has revealed that Pep Guardiola was left fighting back tears after a heated argument with Kyle Walker in the Anfield dressing room, an incident that eventually led to the defender's exit from Manchester City.
Dressing Room Confrontation
After a 2-0 loss to Liverpool in December 2024, Walker confronted Guardiola, frustrated at being singled out for blame. The argument came just days after Guardiola had signed a contract extension.
“You keep saying my name, every meeting,” new footage shows Walker venting angrily. “Every f***ing meeting it’s my name.”
When Guardiola suggested Walker’s name came up often because he was captain, the England international responded, “you didn’t want me to be a captain.” The right-back continued: “I’ve reacted to someone else, I’ve lost the ball, you somehow bring my name into it.”
Guardiola's Emotional Response
The row features in the four-part Prime Video documentary ‘A Beautiful Obsession’, which provides behind-the-scenes footage from Guardiola’s final two seasons as City manager. In response to Walker’s broadside, the Catalan coach struggled to hold it together while delivering an impassioned speech to his players.
“If I am a problem, you have to tell me,” Guardiola said. “I won’t stay here for the money or just for the fact of staying.
“I extended the contract because I want to be with you, I want to fight in that position. I don’t want you to feel like I’m leaving and running away from you.
“I don’t want to have the feeling that the pieces fall down. And I feel ‘No, I want to help you.’
“But if you feel, captains first and then the other ones, that there is a problem? Tell me.
“It’s not going to change the love I have for all of you. Not one second. But I want to fight. That’s all. I’m sorry.”
Walker's Departure
Walker played just seven more matches for the club, three as captain, before joining AC Milan on loan for the second half of the 2024/25 season.
“Two days ago Kyle asked to explore the options to play abroad at the end of his career,” Guardiola said after leaving Walker out of his squad for an FA Cup match against Salford City in January 2025. “And for that reason I prefer to play other players whose mind is here.”
The Treble winner left for good in the summer of 2025 after more than 300 City appearances, joining Burnley. Guardiola ultimately stayed at City until the end of the 2025/26 season, leaving one year before the expiry of his contract.
The manager's departure was officially announced before the final match of the campaign, days after a draw with Bournemouth saw City admit defeat in the title race. He left having won six Premier League titles, three FA Cups, five League Cups and one Champions League.
