Pep Guardiola was awarded with an honorary doctorate by the University of Manchester for his services to the city and he used the opportunity to give a speech about the conflict in Gaza and the tragic casualties
Pep Guardiola launched an impassioned speech after receiving an honorary doctorate by the University of Manchester
Pep Guardiola launched an impassioned speech after receiving an honorary doctorate by the University of Manchester
Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola gave an impassioned speech about Gaza after collecting an honorary degree from the University of Manchester City this week, admitting the casualties from the Israel and Palestine conflict "hurts all my body".
Guardiola was awarded with an honorary doctorate by the university for his contribution to the city during his spell at the Etihad, which has spanned nearly a decade.
As he stepped up to accept the degree, he used the moment to give a powerful political speech about the horrific scenes in Gaza.
Tens of thousands of children have been killed in the region since the conflict escalated after October 7, 2023, when Hamas launched a surprise attack on Israel that killed hundreds.
Speaking on stage at the ceremony, Guardiola said: "It's so painful what we see in Gaza. It hurts all my body. Let me be clear - it's not about ideology. It's not about I'm right and you're wrong. Come on, it's just about the love of life. About the care of your neighbour.
"Maybe we think that we can see the boys and girls of four years old being killed with a bomb or being killed at the hospital - which is not a hospital anymore - and think it's not our business.
'Yeah, fine. We can think about that. It's not our business, but be careful. The next one will be ours. The next four, five year-old kids will be ours. Sorry that I see my kids Maria, Marius and Valentina every morning since the nightmare started in Gaza. And I'm so scared.'
Guardiola then told a story about a forest fire and a bird who flies back and forth from the sea attempting to drop water on the flames.
He continued: "A snake laughs and asks, 'Why bro? You will never put the fire out.' The poor bird replies, 'Yes I know it'. 'Then why do you do it again and again', the snake asks once again. 'I'm just doing my part', the bird replies for the last time. The bird knows that he won't stop the fire but it refused to do nothing.
Pep Guardiola
Guardiola admitted he feels at home in Manchester after nine years in the city and has embraced the dark, cold nights
"In a world that often tells us that we are too small to make a difference, that story reminds me that the power of one is not about the scale, it's about choice. About showing up, about refusing to be silent or still when it matters most."
Guardiola joined City in 2016 and will go down as the most successful manager in the club's history. He's delivered six Premier League titles, four Carabao Cups, two FA Cups and the Champions League - which came during a historic treble-winning season in 2023.
The former Barcelona boss has been linked with an exit multiple times during his spell but he opted to sign a two-year extension at the end of last year.
Guardiola said he had a special connection with Manchester and had embraced the city, even enjoying the bad weather and cold, dark nights.
Guardiola was given the honorary degree for extraordinary contribution to Manchester
Guardiola was given the honorary degree for extraordinary contribution to Manchester
"Catalonia is my hometown, but Manchester will remain something unique for the rest of my life," he added. "I have lived the best moments of my life here.
"I even start to love the rain, the dark days and nights. It's part of my bones, I would say. I get it, I get it. You have to love what you do. Something comes from the gut. Don't do it because maybe I will have more money or something else. Do it because you love it.
"Everything comes from passion. Everything comes from something inside. If you do it just because people say you have to do this, you have to do that. It's why I'm grateful my mum and dad never pushed me into this or did that. Do it because you love it, I think that is the only advice I leave to my kids - and I do many times."
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