The new documentary series A Beautiful Obsession gives viewers an unfiltered look at Pep Guardiola’s last two seasons as manager of Manchester City. The four-part docuseries, directed by Oscar-winning filmmaker Kevin Macdonald, covers the 2024-25 and 2025-26 campaigns. It shows the team’s struggles, Guardiola’s personal challenges, and the emotional farewell to a decade-long era at the Etihad Stadium.
The series arrives on Prime Video in the UK, Ireland, and other regions on August 19, 2026. Indian viewers can watch it on Lionsgate Play starting August 21, 2026. All four episodes are available to stream immediately.
What the Documentary Covers
A Beautiful Obsession follows Manchester City through two very different seasons. The 2024-25 season started with a crisis. After winning four straight Premier League titles, City failed to win in seven matches across all competitions from October to December. They lost six of those games. The team managed only one win in 13 matches by the end of 2024.
The series shows Guardiola dealing with something he rarely faced: losing. Director Kevin Macdonald explained the manager’s struggle.
“He had never lost more than two games in a row before. You’re watching a man unravelling. You’re watching a man who’s trying to cope with the idea that, hang on a minute, what’s going on? I have never lost before. I’m only losing and losing.”
The second season, 2025-26, brought some redemption. City secured a domestic cup double and said farewell to Guardiola, Bernardo Silva, and John Stones. The series ends not with a trophy celebration but with Guardiola accepting defeat.
The Kyle Walker Confrontation
One of the most talked-about moments in the series is the heated argument between Guardiola and then-captain Kyle Walker. The clash happened after a 2-0 loss to Liverpool at Anfield on December 1, 2024.
Guardiola pointed out Walker and Rúben Dias as responsible for Liverpool’s second goal. Walker responded with anger.
“You keep saying my name in every meeting and every f—ing thing. Every f—ing meeting, it’s my name.”
When Guardiola tried to explain, Walker fired back: “You didn’t want me to be a captain.” An emotional Guardiola replied:
“If you’ve taken it personally, Kyle, I’m sorry. This is my defeat—if I am a problem you have to tell me. I won’t stay here for the money or for the fact just to stay, I don’t want to feel that I have to run away from you.”
Walker started only three more games after that. He left on loan to AC Milan in January 2025 and later joined Burnley permanently. Guardiola later told the remaining players: “You cannot behave as a captain the way he has done it.”
Guardiola Opens Up About His Divorce
The documentary also covers Guardiola’s personal life. During a difficult period, he told his players about his divorce from Cristina Serra. They had been together for about 30 years and married since 2014.
After a Champions League defeat to Juventus, Guardiola addressed the squad.
“I’m f—ing divorced from the most beautiful woman on your planet. It’s my wife – my ex-wife. I love her unbelievably, but we lost the passion.”
He used his personal pain to motivate his players. He asked them: “How do you play football, because you are paid? Or because of something inside? Where is the passion?”
Guardiola’s longtime aide, Manuel Estiarte, told the players they were “seeing a human being”. Estiarte explained that Guardiola was “nervous, sad, different”. Serra had moved back to Barcelona with their youngest daughter in 2019. The couple had lived apart for years before the divorce.
Kevin De Bruyne’s Emotional Exit
The series shows the departure of Kevin De Bruyne from Manchester City. The Belgian midfielder left the club, and Guardiola admitted he had grown “too emotionally connected” to him.
“He said, I became too emotionally connected to him. And maybe he shouldn’t have stayed. It wasn’t good for him. It wasn’t good for the club.”
City CEO Ferran Soriano called De Bruyne “the greatest player in the modern history of City”. The documentary handles his departure with honesty, letting conversations and reactions speak for themselves.
Why the Series Stands Out
A Beautiful Obsession is different from typical sports documentaries. It does not show City as an unbeatable team. Instead, it shows the human side of failure.
The series gives viewers access to dressing room meltdowns, boardroom meetings, and even voice notes between chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak and CEO Soriano. Director Macdonald, who admits he is not a football fan, asked simple questions that helped reveal the emotional truth.
“I’m interested in the human beings, and I’m trying to portray the players and Pep and everyone else as human beings.”
The series is divided into four episodes. The first episode, titled Desert, covers the 2024-25 season and the losing streak. The third episode is called Love and Hugs. Guardiola uses match footage to talk about the importance of passion and connection.
How to Watch the Documentary
A Beautiful Obsession is available on Prime Video in the UK, Ireland, Benelux, the Nordics, and Southeast Asia. Prime members can watch it at no extra cost. In India, the series streams on Lionsgate Play.
All four episodes dropped on August 19, 2026. Viewers can binge the entire series immediately.
What Critics Are Saying
The documentary has received positive reviews. Critics praise its honesty and emotional depth. The Hindustan Times gave it 3.5 out of 5 stars.
The series succeeds in showing Guardiola as a human being, not just a tactical genius. It captures the emotional weight of leadership, success, and decline. The camera does not treat the players as heroes who can do no wrong.
One reviewer noted that the series is “no hagiography” of Guardiola. It does not try to hide his struggles or the team’s failures.
The series also shows lighter moments. During a celebratory dinner, Erling Haaland asked someone to take the camera away. These moments show the family-like bond within the team.
Related:
Guardiola’s Legacy at Manchester City
Guardiola spent 10 years at Manchester City. He won six Premier League titles, a treble, and the UEFA Champions League. His final two seasons were the most challenging of his career.
The documentary’s title comes from Guardiola’s obsessive approach to football. City CEO Soriano called him “mentally unbalanced”. Guardiola agreed: “Well, actually, it’s true. I am.”
Director Macdonald wanted to call the series Winning and Losing, but Manchester City did not want the word “Losing” in the title.
The series ends with Guardiola leaving the club. He told his players about his decision in an emotional team meeting. The moment was filmed for the documentary and shows the raw emotion in the room.
A Beautiful Obsession is now streaming. It offers a rare, honest look at one of football’s greatest managers during his most difficult years.
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