Arsenal legend Thierry Henry has suggested that Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola is “not mentally well” following his reported split from wife Cristina Serra and City’s difficult season.
Guardiola, 53, has been dealing with personal challenges amid Manchester City’s inconsistent form.
The defending Premier League champions suffered a humiliating 5-1 defeat against Arsenal on Sunday, February 2, leaving them fifth in the table and trailing leaders Liverpool by 15 points.
Reports in January indicated that Guardiola and Serra had ended their 30-year relationship, with sources claiming Serra was unhappy with his decision to extend his contract with City until 2027.
The separation follows years of the couple living apart, as Serra relocated to Barcelona while Guardiola remained in Manchester.
Henry, who played under Guardiola at Barcelona and went through a public divorce himself in 2007, expressed sympathy for the City manager.
“Do I feel sorry about what’s happening to Man City and Pep? Yeah, I do,” Henry said on Sky Sports.
“It’s not easy to deal with what Pep has to handle outside of football. I went through that when I joined Barcelona. It’s not easy when you’re not well mentally.
“You can see he’s not his usual self. When you have to perform all the time while dealing with personal struggles, it’s tough. I think we can understand.”
Henry also referenced a concerning incident in November, when Guardiola appeared with scratches on his face following City’s 3-3 Champions League draw with Feyenoord.
Guardiola later claimed, “I cut myself with my fingernail during the game. I want to hurt myself.”
Henry, who went through a high-profile divorce from Claire Merry in 2007 after four years of marriage, understands the emotional toll personal issues can take. His ex-wife cited “unreasonable behavior” in the court filings, and Henry did not contest the claims.
Their divorce was finalized in a brief hearing, with Merry receiving a settlement reportedly close to £10 million.
Guardiola and Serra, who met in 1994 and married in 2014, share three children—Maria, 24, Marius, 22, and Valentina, 17.
While the couple had been living apart for years, they had often been seen together in public. Their separation, coupled with Manchester City’s struggles on the pitch, has raised questions about Guardiola’s well-being and the club’s future.