Man City boss Pep Guardiola warned 'the next kids will be ours' as he spoke about the Israel-Gaza war
Guardiola gives his address (Image: The University of Manchester)
Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola said he 'hurts' over the situation in Gaza in an impassioned speech delivered as he was awarded an honorary degree.
Guardiola spoke of 'boys and girls of four years old being killed' during his acceptance address at Whitworth Hall to the University of Manchester. He referenced his own three children as he told of seeing news about 'infants' in Gaza everyday.
The Blue boss also went on to deliver a moving analogy involving a forest fire and a small bird doing its best to douse the flames.
He concluded: "In a world that often tell us we are too small to make a difference, that story reminds me the power of one is not about the scale. Is about choice. About showing up. About refusing to be silent or still when it matters most."
The 54-year-old, who has led City to six Premier League titles and 2023 Champions League glory, was presented with an honorary doctorate by the university’s chancellor, Nazir Afzal, at a ceremony.
The university said the honour was in recognition of the 'extraordinary contribution' he has made to the city since his appointment as City boss in 2016.
City boss Pep Guardiola(Image: PA)
Guardiola spoke of his love for Manchester and its people, but moved his acceptance speech on to the situation in Gaza. It's understood he also referenced the humanitarian crisis in war-ravaged Sudan.
Video clips of the Catalan's speech referencing Gaza are being shared on social media.
He said from a lectern: "It's so painful what we see in Gaza. It hurts me all my body. And 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.
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"Maybe we think that we see the boys and girls of four years old being killed for the bomb or being killed at the hospital because it's not hospital anymore, 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 when I see every morning since the nightmare started, the infant in Gaza. And I'm so scared. Maybe this image feels far away from where we are living now.
"And you might ask what we can do. There is a story I'm remind of. A forest is on fire. All the animals live terrified, helpless, helpless. But the small bird flies back and fourth, back and fourth to the sea, back and fourth, carrying drops of water in the little beak.
Pictured at the Etihad in May(Image: CameraSport via Getty Images)
"A snake laugh and ask 'why bro? You will never put the fire out'. The bird replies 'yes, I know it'. Then why 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 it doesn't stop the fire, but it refused to do nothing.
"In a world that often tell us we are too small to make a difference that story reminds me the power of one is not about the scale. Is about choice. About showing up. About refusing to be silent or still when it matters most."
The award also recognised Guardiola’s contribution to the city away from football, including through his family foundation, the Guardiola Sala Foundation.
Professor Duncan Ivison, president and vice-chancellor of the university, added: "Pep wasn’t born in Manchester, but like me and so many others, the city has welcomed him and made it feel like home.
"That welcome and the way Manchester gets under your skin is why so many people feel a deep, lifelong connection with the city. Pep is an innovator and a winner who has inspired millions of people through his success as a manager.
Honorary degrees are the highest awards the university can offer.
Widely regarded as one of the successful and innovative managers in the history of the game, Guardiola followed a trophy-laden playing career by being appointed as manager of the Barcelona first team in 2008. He won the La Liga title in three of his four seasons at the Camp Nou and lifted the UEFA Champions League twice.
After Barcelona, he joined Bayern Munich whom he led to the last four of the UEFA Champions League in each of his three seasons, landing the Bundesliga three times and winning the league and cup double twice before moving to City.