‘I love her unbelievably’ - Guardiola breaks down in tears after revealing secret divorce to Man City players

Amid a difficult run of nine losses in 12 matches, the Catalan coach delivered a raw and emotional speech to his players in an attempt to reignite their passion and reverse their declining form.

The moment, captured in the Prime Video documentary "A Beautiful Obsession", occurred in the dressing room at Juventus's Allianz Stadium following a 2-0 Champions League defeat.

Guardiola drew a parallel between his team's lack of fire and the breakdown of his own long-term relationship.

His candid admission in December 2024 came weeks before the split became public knowledge, with only a few close friends aware of the situation at the time.

"Guys, I want to confess something," Guardiola told his squad. "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. For many reasons, we lost the passion. I love her? Yeah, absolutely. She loves me? Yeah. But we lost the passion. 

“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."

Despite the impassioned plea, City's struggles continued with immediate losses to Manchester United and Aston Villa. 

However, the team's form improved after the New Year, ultimately leading to a top-three league finish and an FA Cup final appearance.

The four-part series documents Guardiola's final two years at the club, with his divorce serving as a recurring theme. 

The manager, who was with Serra for 30 years and married in 2014, openly discussed needing to "settle a little bit" in his personal life.

Serra had moved back to Barcelona with their youngest daughter in 2019, and the couple lived apart for five years before their divorce.