Pep Guardiola didn’t hold back when confronted by persistent autograph seekers, delivering a blunt and heated response to them.
The Manchester City boss told the group to ‘go back to school’ and warned them ‘don’t come again’ as they hung around with shirts and programmes to be signed.
Guardiola was on his way home fresh from a resounding 8-0 victory over Salford City in the FA Cup third round which sets up a clash with either Leyton Orient or Derby County.
However, on his way back he was met with a group of autograph hunters to whom he delivered some strong words.
It occurred in a car park near Guardiola’s home, where he was approached by a group asking him to sign shirts and memorabilia.
Unimpressed, Guardiola quickly called them out and attempted to inspire them to follow their dreams instead of relying on his signature for profits.
He urged them to not come again, opening his tirade against them: “Don’t come again, I won’t tell you again, I know your faces.
“Go to school and prepare yourself guys. You are young guys so don’t be here, wasting time.
“Do you want to live your life doing this honestly?” he questioned. One of the group quietly added that he ‘used to be a chef’.
The title-winning manager did not stop there however, adding: “Continue to do it. Prepare better. F****** hell man, this isn’t for all the people this is for you.
“What are your dreams? Tell me, what is it?” Guardiola asked, to which one replied that he wants to be a footballer.
“Where do you dream my friend? Practice, f****** hell, practice” he concluded before heading off.
The 53-year-old has found himself at the centre of a number of headlines this season, particularly throughout Man City’s losing spell.
He had a recent incident where he had cut his own head, leaving scratch marks which caused him to clarify his comments around self-harm.
The incident with the autograph hunters came after Guardiola that club captain Kyle Walker wants to explore the option of playing elsewhere.
The 34-year-old had asked the manager if he could ‘explore the options of playing abroad’.
“Two days ago Kyle asked to explore the options to play abroad at the end of his career,” Guardiola said.
“He asked two years ago after the Treble. Bayern Munich wanted him but the offer was not good enough” Guardiola said.
“I asked him, the club asked him, ‘how important is this?’ We cannot understand the success the club had these years without Kyle. It’s impossible. He gave us something we didn’t have and he’s been amazing.
“But now in his mind he would like to explore to go to another country. For that reason, I prefer to play other players whose mind is here, that’s all.”