Pep Guardiola and Raheem Sterling clashed in a dramatic confrontation, as detailed in a new book about Manchester City’s management.
In a rare move, Pep Guardiola, who typically avoids justifying his team selections, found himself in a heated argument with Raheem Sterling. The dispute unfolded in March 2021 when Sterling, upset about being left out of the squad, confronted Guardiola. This led Guardiola to invite Sterling to his office for a discussion, breaking his usual policy of not explaining his decisions.
The exchange, revealed in Marti Perarnau’s book The Pep Revolution, was far from amicable. According to Perarnau, Sterling was so frustrated that he stormed out of the office twice before being summoned back. The conversation ended with a visibly enraged Sterling storming out, leaving Guardiola alone in his dimly lit office, seething with anger.
Despite the fallout, both men managed to put their differences aside as Manchester City went on to secure their Premier League title, their third in four years. They also reached the Champions League final, although they were ultimately defeated by Chelsea.
