Thierry Henry thinks Pep Guardiola is facing mental struggles as he navigates a tough season with Manchester City while also dealing with the end of his 36 years marriage to Cristina Serra.
Man City’s poor form in the Premier League has coincided with challenges in Guardiola’s personal life, sparking discussions about how it may be affecting his performance.
Speaking on Sky Sports after Man City’s crushing 5-1 defeat to Arsenal, Henry, who played under Guardiola at Barcelona, expressed sympathy for his former coach. He reflected on his own struggles during his time in Spain, saying:
“Do I feel sorry about what’s happening to Man City and Pep? Yeah, I do, in one thing. It’s not easy to deal with what Pep has to deal with outside of football. I went through that when I went to Barcelona. It’s not easy to deal with stuff like that when you’re not well mentally.”
Henry also pointed out that Guardiola does not appear to be himself on the sidelines.
“You can see that he’s not his usual self. No one would like to deal with that while you have to perform all the time. So I think we can understand. Now if you go back on the field, it’s not good enough.”
Man City has found themselves in unfamiliar territory this season, sitting 12 points behind Premier League leaders Liverpool. After only four wins in their last ten league games, pressure is mounting on Guardiola to turn things around.
His personal life has also been under the spotlight. Reports from Spanish outlet Sport indicate that one major reason for Guardiola and Serra’s separation was his decision to extend his contract with Man City until 2027.
Their family had reportedly planned to relocate to the United Arab Emirates, but when Guardiola opted to remain in England, Serra ended the marriage.
The pair, who first met when Guardiola was 18, have three children together—Maria 24, Marius 22, and Valentina 17.
Reports suggest their relationship had been strained for years. In October, Guardiola visited Barcelona to meet Serra, and witnesses at a restaurant described their interaction as “tense.
Despite these challenges, Guardiola remains focused on getting Man City’s season back on track. After their heavy loss to Arsenal, they will turn their attention to the FA Cup, where they face Leyton Orient in the fourth round on Saturday.
Guardiola will be hoping for a strong response from his team as they try to regain momentum and reassert themselves as title contenders.
Reported by Sky Sports
