PEP GUARDIOLA REDUCED TO TEARS IN HEATED ROW WITH KYLE WALKER AT MAN CITY

Kyle Walker may have captained Manchester City under Pep Guardiola for a period, but that didn't prevent the full-back and the legendary manager from clashing on occasion

Pep Guardiola clashed with Kyle Walker(Image: Visionhaus, Visionhaus/Getty Images)

Pep Guardiola was left fighting tears following an explosive spat with Kyle Walker at Manchester City.

The highly-successful manager and at the time club captain were embroiled in a major clash in the Anfield dressing room, which led to Walker's departure from the club. Following a 2-0 loss to Liverpool in December 2024, Walker launched a scathing war of words on his gaffer, accusing him of constant criticism. It came just days after the Spaniard had penned fresh terms at the Etihad Stadium.

A new documentary shows Walker venting: "You keep saying my name, every meeting. Every f***ing meeting it's my name." When Guardiola suggested Walker's name came up a lot because he's a captain, the England international replied: "You didn't want me to be a captain," adding: "I've reacted to someone else, I've lost the ball, you somehow bring my name into it."

Manchester City couldn't live with Liverpool in December 2024 and it led to a huge row(Image: Liverpool FC via Getty Images)

The clash between the pair is featured in a new four-part Prime Video documentary 'A Beautiful Obsession', which offers behind-the-scenes material from Guardiola's final two seasons as City boss.

In response to Walker's tirade, the Catalan manager battled to maintain his composure while delivering a heartfelt address to his squad.

He said: "If I am a problem, you have to tell me. 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 featured in just seven further matches for the club, three as skipper, before moving to AC Milan on loan for the latter half of 2024/25.

Guardiola said in January 2025: "Two days ago Kyle asked to explore the options to play abroad at the end of his career. And for that reason I prefer to play other players whose mind is here."

The Treble champion departed permanently in summer 2025 following more than 300 City outings, signing for Burnley. Guardiola eventually remained at City until the conclusion of the 2025/26 season, departing one year prior to his contract's expiration.

The manager's exit was formally confirmed ahead of the campaign's final fixture, days after a stalemate with Bournemouth sealed the Manchester outfit's surrender in the title battle.

He departed having secured six Premier League crowns, three FA Cups, five League Cups and one Champions League trophy. Guardiola suggested he would find it difficult to return to management after stepping away.

- Tom Victor and Aaron Morris

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PEP GUARDIOLA TO STAY ON CFG PAYROLL AFTER QUITTING MANCHESTER CITY

Guardiola's last game of 10 years in charge at City will be on Sunday against Aston Villa

Pep Guardiola is to continue working for City Football Group despite confirming his departure as manager of its flagship club, Manchester City.

Guardiola will take charge of his final match on Sunday, having become the most successful manager in City history during a 10-year spell that gleaned six Premier League titles. 

The former Barcelona and Bayern Munich boss will remain on the CFG payroll, however, as a global ambassador that will involve him giving technical advice to the 13 clubs in the group.

City CEO Ferran Soriano said: “We have been privileged to work alongside Pep Guardiola for 10 years. 

“Pep’s legacy is extraordinary and its true impact will be better assessed by Manchester City historians of the future.

“Pep’s legacy is extraordinary and its true impact will be better assessed by Manchester City historians of the future.

“If there is something more difficult than winning, it is winning again. It requires incredible persistence, resilience and the humility to start again every year, with the same energy, again and again. This is what Pep did.

“As we celebrate the past, we are also very happy to know that Pep will stay with the group and we will be able to use his knowledge and experience in so many of our other clubs to help managers and players.”

Guardiola leaves City as the joint second most successful manager in English football history, after Sir Alex Ferguson. As well as six top-flight titles, he won the club’s first Champions League, three FA Cup and five EFL Cups.

Honesty and trust

The Catalan achieved a Premier League record points tally of 100 in 2017-18, and is credited with popularising tactical innovations including ball-playing goalkeepers and inverted full-backs throughout English football.

He departs, however, with the shadow of City’s more than 100 charges of breaching the Premier League’s financial rules still hanging over the club, who have denied wrongdoing.

“Over the last 10 years honesty and trust have formed the bedrock on which we have navigated every situation together with Pep,” said City chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak.

“There have been points along the way when he could have stopped, and it would have been enough. Somehow, Pep always found new energy and pushed on, finding different and innovative ways to continue winning and delivering success.”

Guardiola, who has batted away questions about his future throughout this season, said he could not explain why he was stepping down with one year remaining on his contract.

“Don’t ask me the reasons I’m leaving. There is no reason, but deep inside, I know it’s my time,” he said. 

“Nothing is eternal, if it was, I would be here. Eternal will be the feeling, the people, the memories, the love I have for my Manchester City.”

The club are expected to pay tribute to Guardiola at their final game of the season, at home to Aston Villa, this weekend.

- Frank Dalleres

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EVERY WORD MIKEL ARTETA SAID ON ARSENAL, PEP GUARDIOLA AND TEXTING ANDONI IRAOLA

Arsenal are five points clear at the top of the Premier League table and the title is in touching distance after Monday night's victory over Burnley at The Emirates

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta(Image: 2026 The Arsenal Football Club Plc)

The Premier League title is within touching distance for Arsenal after Monday night's 1-0 win over Burnley.

Kait Havertz scored the only goal of the game against the relegated Clarets to move the Gunners five points clear at the top of the table. Arsenal will even be crowned champions tonight if Manchester City fail to win against Champions League-chasing Bournemouth on the south coast.

Mikel Arteta was afforded a huge reception by the home crowd as he took the microphone post-game, telling the crowd: “It is an absolute joy to witness the transformation and contribution each of you have had to turn this place into the most beautiful place to enjoy and play our football games.

“This is the soul of this football club. Make sure that every time you step in this stadium you have the responsibility to keep these standards because it makes such a difference to us and the players.”

He then sat in the bowels of the Emirates to speak to the media. Here is every word the Arsenal boss said...

Was that the game you expected?

I knew it was going to be tough. I think in the first half we played some of the best football we have played this season. We were very unfortunate not to score two or three goals and then that was the story of the season.

If we cannot do that, make sure that we are extremely efficient in defending certain moments. Not giving anything away to the opponent and winning the three points.

Not conceding from open play since Man City away?

Well I think that the desire every single player shows in their defensive duties, their behaviours, is phenomenal and the work by the coaches as well, and we all know the importance of that and how many results and wins we have because of that.

Kai Havertz, starting and his season

Yeah I think we forget the amount of players that we have missed for long long periods of the season. They are exceptional.

That is the merit of this team, that regardless of that look where we are, one game away from winning the Premier League with everything that we have been through and that shows how strong the mindset and the team is.

Is that why you started him?

I had a feeling that he had to start and the way they set up he could be really difficult to handle and he showed that.

It was like you had to suffer through the win?

I don’t know I thought that the amount of hair that I have is never going to go away, but I think this job is going to test it to the limit.

How do you keep everyone focused?

We’ve done what is in our hands, and since the Man City game away, we said it’s five games, we’ve done four, and now there is one to go unless something happens tomorrow night.

Will you be watching the Bournemouth game?

I don’t know how long I am going to watch it, I will be there in front of the TV but I don’t know how much I am going to be able to watch it, that is the reality.

Was Havertz lucky to stay on the pitch?

Well I was certainly worried when they were checking it, when I looked at the bench they said it wasn’t but I haven’t had a look at the action?

Will you watch tomorrow with the players?

No, I haven’t planned to do that. I am planning to watch it with my family and again I don’t know for how long.

The speech at full-time, what did that feel like looking around?

That it’s incredible to witness what we have created in this stadium. Obviously, I have memories from the past, and the comparison is unbelievable to watch. I am so proud. They have created something so special outside the stadium, in the stadium, and now we have to set the standards that we are all responsible for maintaining that because if we can provide that we know the outcome.

How different was that from last season?

Well at that point we knew we were going to finish second and we were not going to have a final to play so yeah, what I said to them: ‘See you at Selhurst Park and see you in Budapest. Two to go!

Pep confessed he was a West Ham fan for 24 hours, are you now a Bournemouth fan for 24 hours?

The biggest ever! Andoni, and all the players and all the supporters of Bournemouth, I think we are all are because we know what it means if they get a result tomorrow.

Will you send Andoni a text?

I don’t think it’s needed. What he’s done in that football club, the transformation, what they are playing for, I don’t think they need anything else. When you look at how Burnley played today, the spirit that they show, how difficult they made it, imagine tomorrow.

On reports Guardiola is leaving at the end of the season.

No, I cannot comment on that, the day that he makes a decision to stay or leave we can comment I think.

- Tom Canton

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PEP GUARDIOLA ADDRESSES BERNARDO SILVA EXIT WITH MAN CITY STAR'S FUTURE UNCERTAIN

Bernardo Silva is widely expected to leave Manchester City in the summer and Pep Guardiola has now given the latest on what he knows about the midfielder's situation

Pep Guardiola spoke about Bernardo Silva's potential departure(Image: Aitor Alcalde/UEFA via Getty Images)

Pep Guardiola jokingly claimed he was livid with Bernardo Silva for failing to inform him about his departure from Manchester City, while insisting that no decision had yet been reached. City's assistant Pep Lijnders hinted last week that Silva's exit this summer was a foregone conclusion, yet Guardiola suggested that any announcement would come directly from the player himself.

Silva has considered moves away from the club at various stages throughout his nine years there, but committed last season to honouring the final year of his deal, with Guardiola having handed him the captaincy. He told journalists in September that he had reached a decision regarding next season - with most expecting him to depart - but has remained tight-lipped ever since.

Speaking following the Liverpool match, Lijnders seemingly confirmed his exit by wishing him a fond farewell over the remaining six weeks. Nevertheless, there has still been no official word from either the club or the player, and Guardiola jokingly admitted he was fuming with his skipper for leaving him completely in the dark.

"I'm so grumpy with Bernardo because a month ago I said 'if you take a decision I have to be the first to [know]' and he didn't say anything to me yet," he said, reports the Manchester Evening News.

"I think the proper one must be Bernardo, I don't know if he has already decided. I said, jokingly, 'tell me I deserve it' but he didn't tell me so I don't know what's going on.

"It looks like a farewell press conference for Bernardo - he didn't tell me! I'm pretty sure all the managers he has had would say how much they love him because he is always thinking, he is incredibly competitive, has a fire inside and always in the toughest moments on the biggest stages he is always there.

"Big, big games, it's not about playing good or playing bad, it is being yourself and not being afraid. Bernie has had all of these attributes since the first day he arrived from Monaco.

Bernardo Silva is expected to leave this summer(Image: Simon Stacpoole/Offside/Offside via Getty Images)

"He has been an incredible signing for us and because I love this club amazingly I would love him to stay and finish his career here but he's going to decide his decision when he is going to decide and announce to the club, to the media, and everyone.

"But he has been an incredible signing for numbers and minutes and titles and especially in bad moments. I define players in bad moments when everything is difficult, how he always made a step up and said I'm here to help."

- Simon Bajkowski

PEP GUARDIOLA SAYS TREATMENT OF IMMIGRANTS A 'BIG PROBLEM' AFTER SIR JIM RATCLIFFE CONTROVERSY

The Man City boss has spoken out following controversial comments from Man Utd’s co-owner

‘BIG PROBLEM’: PEP GUARDIOLA CALLED ON PEOPLE TO ‘EMBRACE OTHER CULTURES’

Pep Guardiola has called for people to “embrace other cultures” to make a “better society” in light of controversial comments from Manchester United co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe about immigration.

Ratcliffe this week sparked controversy by claiming the UK had been “colonised” by immigrants.

The Red Devils minority owner has since apologised for offending “some people” with his “choice of language”, which Guardiola acknowledged, but the Manchester City manager expressed that he feels the wider issue of how countries treat immigrants remains a “big problem”.

Speaking at a press conference on Friday ahead of his side’s FA Cup clash with Salford City, Guardiola said: “I have a huge appreciation for Sir Jim. I was fortunate to meet him. He made a statement after to apologise.

“I’m not commenting on what Sir Jim Ratcliffe said because after that he said what exactly he wanted to say, but all around the world the problem that we have in all the countries [is that] we treat immigrants or people who come from other countries as the problem for problems that our countries have and it is a big, big, big, big, big problem.

He continued: “The fact that I am a Catalan and you are British – what influence did we have on where we were born? It was mum and dad.

“Everybody wants to have a better life and a perspective to have a better future for themselves, their families and their friends, and sometimes opportunities come in the place where you are born and the place that maybe you go.

“Before it was so difficult to travel, but today in one hour you can be everywhere. Today the colour of the skin or where you were born doesn’t make a difference. We have a lot of work to do about that.

“It doesn’t make me feel that because I am Catalan I am better than you. My education when I was born and travelled in Mexico and Qatar or lived in Italy or England or Germany, that is just the benefit of my personality.

“I met incredibly nice people travelling and that is what it is about, but it doesn’t make me feel better just for the fact I was born in one place or the other one. Most people are running away from countries because of problems in their countries, not because they want to leave. As much as we embrace other cultures – truly, truly embrace it – that will be a better society.”

Ratcliffe’s comments in a Sky News interview on Wednesday drew criticism from Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and the Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham, among other political leaders.

It is understood that Ratcliffe’s claims will also be examined by the Football Association to see whether they brought the game into disrepute, while on Thursday afternoon United issued a statement saying the club take pride in being “inclusive and welcoming”.

It read: “Our diverse group of players, staff and global community of supporters, reflect the history and heritage of Manchester; a city that anyone can call home.

“Since launching All Red All Equal in 2016, we have embedded equality, diversity and inclusion into everything we do.

“We remain deeply committed to the principles and spirit of that campaign.”

In an apology issued earlier that day, Ratcliffe had said: “I am sorry that my choice of language has offended some people in the UK and Europe and caused concern, but it is important to raise the issue of controlled and well-managed immigration that supports economic growth.”

- ALEX DAKERS

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TOURÉ GOES ALL IN AGAINST GUARDIOLA

 

Yaya Touré: “I don’t see a man, I see a snake. Guardiola treated me like I was dust”.

“My wife always used to say about him: ‘Devil, he’s not a man, he’s evil.’ She sees him as a negative person”.

The relationship between Yaya Touré and Pep Guardiola rotted when he started only 9 games for FC Barcelona. Touré decided to leave for Manchester City, but in 2016 the Spaniard arrived there as well.

“I want the Guardiola myth to be broken. I have the feeling he did everything he could to ruin my last season at Manchester City”.

“I’ve even asked myself if all this was because of the color of my skin, and I’m not the only one who’s asked that question. Some Barcelona players have wondered the same thing”.

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