Madrid, Spain – Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has continued to support the Palestinian cause, again expressing his dismay at what is happening in Gaza and affirming his desire to use his position to speak out for the sake of building a better society.
Guardiola said during a press conference that he feels “deep pain” for the victims of conflicts around the world, noting that he will not stop expressing his humanitarian stance.
The Manchester City manager had missed media duties last Friday, one day after giving a speech in support of Palestinian children during a charity event in his hometown of Barcelona.
Speaking ahead of the second leg of the Carabao Cup semi-final against Newcastle, Guardiola spoke passionately about children being killed or injured in conflict zones, saying the videos he sees “hurt him”.
He referred to the conflicts in Palestine, Ukraine and Sudan, and also touched on recent shooting incidents carried out by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents in the United States.
Guardiola said: “Today we can see everything, before we couldn’t see it. This hurts me. And if it were the other way around it would hurt me too. I’m sorry, I will always stand up and speak out. Always. The killing of thousands of innocent people? This hurts me. It’s not complicated. It’s just this”.
He added: “I can’t imagine how anyone can not feel anything when they see these images every day, fathers, mothers, and children, their lives being destroyed, and people feel no connection? I’m sorry, I can’t accept that”.
When asked by The Athletic why these issues were important to him, he said: “I appreciate this question because it’s the first time in 10 years that a journalist has asked me about this subject. It seems like you (the media) are not allowed to talk about it, I don’t know”.
He continued: “Is there anyone who sees pictures of wars around the world and is not affected? This is not a question of right or wrong”.
He continued: “Never in the history of mankind has the information been as clear before our eyes as it is now – what is happening in Palestine, in Ukraine, in Russia, in Sudan, everywhere. What is happening in front of us? Do you want to see it? These are our problems as human beings”.
Israel was accused of genocide against Palestinians in a UN report last year, an accusation Israel vehemently denied. It was also recently reported that Israeli officials acknowledged that approximately 70,000 Palestinians were killed in the war.
Guardiola comments on US immigration policies: “Don’t ask if he’s right or wrong.. save him”.
Guardiola commented on the migrant issue after a BBC report revealed that 933 migrants crossed the English Channel in small boats during January, saying: “People who are forced to flee their countries, and take to the sea in boats to be rescued – don’t ask if they are right or wrong, rescue them. They are human”.
He added: “After that we can disagree or criticize, but people are dying, and they must be helped. Protecting human life is the only thing we have”.
He also pointed to the killing of two American citizens by federal agents during the immigration crackdown led by US President Donald Trump, amid concerns expressed by the European Football Supporters’ Association about the “militarization of the police” ahead of the upcoming World Cup in North America.
Guardiola said: “When I see these images, it hurts me. That’s why, wherever I can help or speak out for a better society, I will. Always. For my children, my family, and for you”.
He continued: “From my point of view, justice? We have to talk. Otherwise, things will just go on as if nothing happened. What happened in the United States? René Goode and Alex Peretti were killed. Tell me, how can that be defended?”
He concluded, “There is no perfect society, no perfect place, and I am not perfect. We have to work to be better”.
