Manchester City’s £10m documentary All or Nothing has been released, giving a behind-the-scenes look at the champions’ record-breaking 2017-18 Premier League season.
An Amazon Prime Video film crew followed Pep Guardiola’s side as they stormed their way to success, finishing the campaign with 100 points and scoring 106 goals.
The eight-part series was released on the streaming service on Friday.
Here are five things we learned from the first episode.
Guardiola’s use of English swear words is a surprise
The episode begins with Guardiola giving a half-time team talk during the Carabao Cup final in February.
City lead Arsenal 1-0 and are within touching distance of their first trophy under him – but he is not a happy man.
As Guardiola paces frantically around the dressing room, his animated expressions are juxtaposed with shots of his players and coaching staff motionless and in silence.
“I know it is difficult guys, I know because you want to win. I know, but you have to learn how to play football with courage,” Guardiola says, clapping his hands together before running back to his tactics board.
“The best thing about our season is that it doesn’t matter where we were, because we play with character and courage.
“We have to show who we are. Don’t arrive at the final and then don’t do what we’ve done all season.”
The lively ‘Pep talk’ sends a message to his players loud and clear.
His colourful language will perhaps come as a surprise to viewers, who are given a glimpse into the realities of a half-time team talk from which they are typically excluded.
“If you become a top, top, top, top, top team, you have to score the goals guys,” the former Barcelona and Bayern Munich manager says in another clip.
We’ve omitted the ‘F word’ from both quotes – you may be able to guess where they slot in!
How victory over Liverpool was secured
Guardiola likes a noisy dressing room before a match. “I feel that it animates the players more,” he says.
City’s home game against Premier League rivals Liverpool in September was no different.
Gathering the players in a cinema-type room with a tactics board and magnets to symbolise the players, the Spaniard demonstrates what he wants from his star-studded team.
Enthusiastically moving the magnets around the board, Guardiola explains what they must do to thwart Liverpool’s similarly attacking style.
“Good afternoon guys. Today I’m going to explain what they do in attack. It’s a team who is so good at running behind,” he says, addressing his players in the manner of a lecturer teaching students.
“[Sadio] Mane and [Mohamed] Salah are so fast. Try to close the channel. Even when the full-back has to go, try and make the movement.”
It worked. The eventual champions thumped the Reds 5-0.
Despite the dominant display, Guardiola says: “I don’t have all the answers.
“Often when I don’t know something, I act in front of the players as if I do. I do it so they believe I have the answers and that gives them the confidence to play.
“Sometimes they ask you about things in life, and then you must adopt the role of a father, brother and son.”
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