Pep Guardiola

By Sabiu Abdullahi

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has delivered an emotional speech in support of Palestinian children, calling on world leaders to take action over the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

Guardiola spoke on Thursday evening at a charity concert in Barcelona, which led to his absence from Manchester City’s usual pre-weekend news conference on Friday. The club later explained that he missed the briefing for personal reasons, with assistant coach Pep Lijnders stepping in to address the media ahead of Sunday’s Premier League match against Tottenham Hotspur.

Appearing on stage wearing a keffiyeh scarf, the 55-year-old expressed deep distress over the suffering of children affected by the conflict.

“Good evening, salam alaikum, how wonderful,” Guardiola said at the event.

He went on to describe the scenes that have troubled him over the past two years. “When I see a child in these past two years with these images on social media, on television, recording himself, pleading, ‘where is my mother?’ among the rubble and he still doesn’t know it.”

Guardiola said such images often left him reflecting on the emotional state of the children involved. “And I always think: ‘What must they be thinking?’ And I think we have left them alone, abandoned.”

He added that he imagined the children calling out for help. “I always imagine them saying: ‘Where are you? Come help us.’”

The Manchester City boss criticised global leadership for failing to respond adequately. “And even now, we haven’t done it. Perhaps because those in power are cowards, because they basically send innocent young people to kill innocent people.”

Guardiola urged collective responsibility and action, calling for what he described as a “step forward,” as he said he was making “a statement for Palestine and… a statement for humanity”.

His comments came amid continued tension in Gaza. Although Hamas and Israel agreed to a ceasefire in October, Gaza’s health ministry reports that more than 400 Palestinians have been killed in the months that followed. Israeli media, citing senior military officials, also reported that Israel’s military now accepts that around 70,000 Palestinians have been killed since the war began.

Guardiola’s appearance at the Barcelona event took place during the football season, with Manchester City scheduled to return to action on Sunday.

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.