Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has been seen for the first time since news broke of his separation from his wife of 30 years, Cristina Serra.
The reigning Premier League champions arrived in London ahead of their clash against Brentford on Tuesday night.
Guardiola was seen wearing his wedding ring amid reports from Spain about his split from Serra.
Observers wonder if his relationship problems could be behind the bizarre outbursts that include a joke about self-harm and several angry fights with fans on and off the court.
Manchester City's form has taken a nosedive and it has now emerged that he and his wife have reportedly split after living in different countries for five years.
Until this season this separation of 860 miles – Pep in Manchester and his Cristina in Barcelona with their three children – coincided with a golden era for City and its coach.
Pep Guardiola arrived at a London hotel ahead of Tuesday's clash between Manchester City and Brentford.
Reports emerged on Monday that Guardiola had separated from his wife of 30 years, Cristina Serra.
Guardiola was seen wearing his wedding ring when the Manchester City players arrived at his London hotel.
Guardiola and his wife separated after living in different countries for five years.
Guardiola met Serra when they were 18 in 1994 and the couple married in 2014.
But last night it emerged that Mr and Mrs Guardiola had decided to end their marriage, although friends have said it is “friendly and cordial” and they spent Christmas together with their children Maria, 24, Marius, 22, and Valentina, 17 .
In recent months, City have endured the worst run of their manager's golden career after a record four consecutive Premier League titles and a historic Champions League victory.
Off the pitch Pep has been involved in a series of fights with football fans who have bothered him by asking for autographs or inciting him after defeats. There have also been issues with players, including the drama of Kyle Walker's love life and speculation over the futures of players such as Jack Grealish and Kevin De Bruyne.
There were also worrying comments about self-harm after he admitted scratching his head and face until he bled during the final moments of City's collapse against Feyenoord in November. He also spoke of the loneliness of football management as City fell to sixth place in the league with six defeats, including four in a row.
Guardiola's assessment may have taken on added importance amid reports in Spain that emerged on Monday that he had separated from his wife Cristina Serra after 30 years. They met when they were 18 years old, in 1994, and married in 2014.
And although his place as one of football's best coaches is indisputable, despite a poor start to the season, the pain of separating from his wife, his childhood sweetheart, will also have caused him more pain.