Manchester: Legendary coach Pep Guardiola informed Manchester City players about his divorce in a fiery manner following the team's 2-0 loss to Juventus in their UEFA Champions League game on December 11, 2024. In a candid disclosure, Guardiola shared personal news amidst a team talk that veered into highly emotional territory.
According to Ghana Web, in a yet-to-be-released documentary titled 'A Beautiful Obsession', it was revealed that the iconic manager was furious with his players for their lackadaisical performance, which contributed to the defeat. During the heated moment, Guardiola disclosed his split from Cristina Serra, admitting that although they loved each other, they had lost passion.
'Guys, I want to confess something. I'm f*ing divorced from the most beautiful woman on your planet, my wife, my ex-wife. I love her unbelievably, but we lost the passion. Do I love her? Yeah, absolutely. Does she love me? Yeah, but we lost the passion,' he said in a fiery rant after the defeat. The Spanish tactician went on to admonish his players to play with passion and full commitment, stressing that being a good player alone is not enough.
Guardiola further emphasized the importance of passion in his players' performances. 'How do you play football? Because you play, or for something inside? In your lives, whatever you are going to do, do it with passion. I don't want good players, I want players with passion.' he added. The 55-year-old coach is understood to be hopeful that he and Cristina, 53, may reconcile, as he is currently on vacation following his resignation from Manchester City.
The former Barcelona coach is reportedly considering a move to manage a national team and participate in international competitions, suggesting that his storied career may take a new direction following his emotional revelation.