Pep Guardiola

By Muhammad Sulaiman

Pep Guardiola, the renowned Manchester City manager, delivered a moving and heartfelt speech on the humanitarian crisis in Gaza while receiving an honorary doctorate from the University of Manchester this week.

In an emotional address, Guardiola veered from the usual ceremonial tone to speak about the suffering in Gaza, calling for compassion and courage in the face of ongoing violence. 

“It is so painful what we see in Gaza, it hurts all my body,” he said, his voice weighted with emotion. “It is not about ideology but the love of life. It is about refusing to be silent or still when it matters the most.”

Guardiola, known as much for his principled stances as for his tactical brilliance on the pitch, received a standing ovation from many in the audience, including faculty, students, and dignitaries.

The University of Manchester awarded Guardiola the honorary degree in recognition of his contributions to sport and his influence as a global figure. Yet, it was his candid acknowledgement of human suffering and his call for empathy that left a lasting impression.

Social media erupted in praise following the speech, with many highlighting Guardiola’s words as a rare and courageous gesture from a figure in elite sport.

As tensions and humanitarian concerns continue to mount in Gaza, Guardiola’s remarks have added a prominent voice to the growing international calls for peace and justice.

By Aliyu Yakubu Yusuf

It is challenging for any group of players that has won all the available trophies on offer to maintain the same focus and motivation the following season. There’s only one way for any club to win a treble of league title: UCL and the domestic cup. That way is downwards. In this context, I am not overly surprised about Manchester City’s struggles so far this season.

Pep Guardiola is a gaffer who prioritises control and patient buildup in the middle of the park. The current Manchester City team lacks these attributes. Their matches are often chaotic end-to-end affairs that produce plenty of goalscoring chances. This isn’t a quintessential Guardiola team that routinely deprives their opposition of a sniff of the ball, let alone scoring opportunities. I attribute Manchester City’s recent travails to three critical factors:

1. Rodri’s frequent suspensions

Manchester City have lost four games so far this season. A common denominator in all these games is that Rodri missed ALL of them. Make that what you will.

2. Kevin De Bruyne’s Injury

Do I even need to mention the importance of the blond Belgian to this team? Julian Alvarez has deputised in the KDB role, often admirably. However, the Argentine is no midfielder and will never bring the same midfield control and assurance.

3. Gundogan’s Departure/Kovacic’s Poor Form

Pep Guardiola signed the Croatian as a direct replacement for Ilkay Gundogan, who left for a Bosman ruling in the summer. The German was a cornerstone for Manchester City for several years. True, Kovacic is no Gundogan. Still, he has often been poor whenever he steps onto the pitch. He was subsequently relegated to the bench. Guardiola and City surely expected more from the former Inter Milan, Real Madrid and Chelsea man.

There you have it. For the record, I still expect Guardiola to sort things out and mount a title challenge as usual. Come the end of the season, the Citizens will be there or thereabout. Write them off at your own peril.

Aliyu Yakubu Yusuf wrote from Kano, Nigeria. He can be contacted via aliyuyy@gmail.com.