Sports
Pep Guardiola Used Man Utd Footage To Show Unacceptable Behaviour
Pep Guardiola has always demanded more from his players than goals, assists and trophies.
The 55-year-old has called time on his days as Manchester City manager after 10 years, delivering 20 trophies that include City’s first-ever Champions League title, and a record four Premier League titles in a row. His former assistant and former Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca is reportedly close to replacing him, as Guardiola takes up a role as Global Ambassador for the City Football Group, with him making it clear that an immediate return to management isn’t on the cards.
Pep Guardiola Delivers Emotional Speech as He Confirms Man City Exit After 10 Years
Pep Guardiola will step down as Manchester City manager at the end of the season.
As reported by The Athletic, a story that emerged from inside the club during what was the final campaign of Guardiola’s tenure perfectly captures that mentality, and interestingly, the example he chose to make his point came from the other side of Manchester.
Guardiola Used Manchester United Star to Make a Point to his Squad
Following September’s Manchester derby, a match City won 3-0, Guardiola gathered his squad together for a routine post-match debrief. Players expected the usual tactical breakdown, analysing what City had done well and where improvements could still be made. Instead, Guardiola prepared something completely different.
Rather than focusing on his own team, he directed attention towards the reaction of one United player immediately after Phil Foden opened the scoring in the 17th minute. Guardiola reportedly had clips prepared and ready to show the squad, determined to use the moment as an example of behaviour he’d never want to see from his own players.
The individual in question wasn’t a fringe player, or an inexperienced youngster. It was one of United’s senior figures, a footballer regarded as one of the Premier League’s most talented creators and somebody Guardiola himself is believed to admire greatly.
Guardiola’s issue wasn’t with the player’s ability. In fact, those present say he made a point of acknowledging the player’s quality before delivering his message.
Instead, the City boss focused on the reaction itself. In frustration following the goal, the United star had openly turned on his teammates, visibly berating them as City celebrated. Guardiola used the clip to reinforce the standards expected inside his own dressing room, where public blame and visible frustration towards teammates are seen as damaging behaviours.
The player Guardiola used as the example was Bruno Fernandes, the new holder of the Premier League’s all-time assist record and Player of the Season.
The article explained: “The day after September’s derby, one source who was present describes how the manager did not want to highlight what his players had done — the focus was instead on Bruno Fernandes. The Portugal midfielder was livid with his United team-mates for their role in Phil Foden’s opening goal, openly berating them as City celebrated.
“Guardiola had the clips prepared so he could send a message to his players that while Fernandes is a fine player, displaying such a negative attitude towards his team-mates would not be accepted at City. Guardiola is not averse to public shows of dissatisfaction with his own players during matches and this was another reminder of the standards he expects.”
The incident in question appears to have occurred after Foden scored the opener vs Man Utd in September 2025. As the footage shows below, Fernandes doesn’t track his man but immediately expresses his frustration with his teammates instead of taking responsibility.
Pep Guardiola’s Obsession With Mentality at Manchester City
Those close to Guardiola’s methods say moments like this are entirely consistent with how he’s always operated. Throughout his managerial career, he’s obsessed over details many others would overlook, believing mentality and body language are just as important to a player’s game as ability is.
A similar lesson was reportedly highlighted after City’s victory over Arsenal in April. Guardiola pointed to Rodri immediately sprinting forward after losing possession, forcing William Saliba to track him and creating the space for Erling Haaland to score. At the same time, Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard was said to have hesitated before reacting.
Those tiny differences matter enormously for Guardiola. His belief was that titles are often decided not by moments of magic, but by mentality and reactions in split seconds.
Ultimately, City fell short in the title race this season, as Arsenal ended were crowned champions following two disappointing draws for City against Everton and then Bournemouth. But even during the final weeks of his reign, stories like this suggest the City manager remained every bit as demanding and obsessively meticulous as the figure who transformed the club into one of football’s great modern dynasties.
Every Trophy Pep Guardiola Has Won
The Manchester City boss is one of the most decorated managers in football history.
Real Madrid have undergone a dramatic culture shift behind the scenes, with new manager Jose Mourinho tearing up the old rulebook covering everything from nutrition and discipline to injury recovery.
Players who previously enjoyed near-total freedom over how they organised their days are now operating under a far stricter regime, one designed to stamp the new coach’s identity on every corner of the club.
The changes for Los Blancos cover far more than what happens on the training pitch, touching on almost every aspect of a player’s daily life at the club’s training complex, as they embark on a season where winning trophies is essential, after two years without one.
Jose Mourinho Overhauls Rules at Real Madrid
Mourinho studied the setup at Valdebebas upon arrival before concluding the system needed tighter control, according to Spanish outlet AS. It appears Mourinho isn’t applying these rules for the sake of being strict and to challenge the larger-than-life personalities among the Madrid ranks. Instead, they’re being enforced with rigour and conviction, with team spirit sitting at the heart of his project.
The club underlined that point by sharing a photo of every player and staff member eating together, a scene rarely noticed before.
Sources inside the club said:
“He wants to strengthen team spirit and unity, and it is going in a way that is generating excitement,” while others described the current atmosphere as “very good.”
Indeed, the players are said to have met the changes with satisfaction and positivity.
Real Madrid’s New Nutrition and Discipline Rules Explained
The three changes are based on nutrition, discipline, and recovery.
Nutrition has also changed significantly. The club nutritionist no longer simply offers advice but now prepares mandatory, pre-set menus for breakfast and snacks, with every meal built around athletic performance rather than personal taste. Despite the shift, it’s been reported that there is no unrest in the dressing room, with players said to have welcomed the changes.
Discipline follows a similar pattern. Rather than fines, sanctions now involve individual gym sessions away from the group, while every player must arrive at Valdebebas a full hour before training, with no exceptions for lateness.
Recovery has been centralised too, with all programmes, including those involving personal trainers, now carried out under club supervision. External treatment is no longer permitted, marking a clear break from the freedom players had grown used to before Mourinho’s arrival.
For some time now, FIFA president Gianni Infantino has been making negative headlines. He drew criticism for the way he cosied up to Donald Trump ahead of the 2026 World Cup, and has only made himself more unpopular since then.
His biggest mistake, however, appears to have been the plan to privatise the World Cup. The idea of selling off shares in FIFA’s biggest competition sparked outrage, with many now turning on the football administrator. Notably, UEFA have led the calls for Infantino to step down from his role.
The 56-year-old actually used to work for UEFA, joining in 2000 and leaving 16 years later to take on his current role with FIFA. During that time, it’s now been reported that he had an ‘alleged mistress.’
UEFA Reportedly Paid Off Infantino’s Alleged Mistress
As per The Telegraph, UEFA reportedly paid off an alleged mistress of Infantino while he was working as general secretary. It’s said that the woman, a junior employee, received a six-figure sum after the alleged relationship with Infantino – who is married and has four children – while he was a leading official at European football’s governing body.
What’s more, she is alleged to have been promoted by the now-FIFA president during their relationship. After she left, the football organisation reportedly paid for her to do an MBA at a business school which charged fees of about £45,000 a year.
The woman was reportedly in an administrative position when their relationship began, but was subsequently promoted to a more lucrative managerial role. When she left, Infantino is alleged to have used then his connections to get her a new lucrative job, and later diverted UEFA funds to secure her pay-off.
In a statement, UEFA admitted that a payment had been made and that it was aware of the allegations that the woman was in a relationship with Infantino. The European footballing body said they have since “tightened” their regulations to “reflect those found in a modern, high-profile organisation.”
FIFA Statement on Infantino Allegations
A FIFA spokesman has said that there had never been any complaints by employees about Infantino’s behaviour. In a statement, the spokesman also confirmed that the organisation’s president denies the claims:
“FIFA president Gianni Infantino strongly denies these allegations, and they are categorically untrue. Any insinuation of inappropriate conduct or violation of statutes or regulations is defamatory.
“No employee at Uefa and Fifa has ever raised a complaint regarding Mr Infantino’s behaviour because there never was an incident where he was involved. All company actions related to employees, including any departure and severance packages, have always been approved by the appropriate directors in accordance with all applicable regulations.”
The Telegraph went on to claim, via sources, that Infantino was challenged over the alleged affair by Michel Platini, UEFA’s then president, and it was agreed that she would leave with a six-figure pay-off.
Manchester City have made contact over a surprise deal to sign Liverpool star Alexis Mac Allister as a replacement for Rodri, according to reports.
The Cityzens have had a relatively quiet summer transfer window so far, breaking their club-record to sign Elliot Anderson from Nottingham Forest, while also bringing in teenager Jeremy Monga and young goalkeeper Pierce Charles for new manager Enzo Maresca.
But the club are facing a battle to hold on to their star midfielder after he won the World Cup, and plans are underway for City to find a replacement ahead of the new season beginning.
Fees correct prior to summer 2026
All 10 found — excellent!
City have accumulated a shortlist of options to replace the 2024 Ballon d’Or winner after it emerged that he is keen to return to Spain, amid strong interest from Barcelona. Mac Allister is one of the players on that list, although it is unclear if he would be open to the move or if Liverpool would be open to selling the Argentina international.
Rodri Says Yes to Barcelona in Huge Transfer Twist
Mac Allister has been a regular for Liverpool since signing from Brighton in 2023, winning the Premier League and EFL Cup in his three seasons at Anfield. He has made 150 appearances, scoring 19 goals in that time, and earned the praise of some top stars.
One such star was Paul Scholes, who listed him as the fourth-best midfielder in world football last year, behind only Vitinha, Rodri and Pedri.
“Mac Allister, again, I thought he was brilliant last year for Liverpool. I saw him close up in the game at Old Trafford, as I mentioned before, he was brilliant, controlled everything. I don’t think he’s had a great start to this season.
“So I’ll have Mac Allister at number four.”
| Rodri World Cup 2026 Stats | |
|---|---|
| Appearances | 8 |
| Minutes | 726 |
| Key Passes (per 90) | 1.4 |
| Average Passes (per 90) | 101.4 |
| Pass Success % | 93.2 |
| Long Balls (per 90) | 4.6 |
Man City Reject Barcelona Bid as Rodri Agrees to Move
GIVEMESPORT sources understand that Man City have already rejected an opening bid from Barcelona for Rodri.
The Catalan giants tabled an offer worth an initial €45m (£38.5m), but City have rejected it out of hand as they are looking for around €75m (£64.2m) to let the 30-year-old leave, despite him being in the final year of his contract.
Rodri has already agreed terms with Hansi Flick’s side over a move, having picked them over rivals Real Madrid, who have now exited the race for his signature. Barcelona are now planning to make a fresh offer, and remain confident of finding an agreement with City in the coming weeks.
The Spain international was key to the World Cup win this summer, but is currently sidelined after undergoing surgery for a back issue following the tournament.
Statistics courtesy of WhoScored – correct as of 07/08/2026.
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