Pep Guardiola delivered a powerful and politically-charged speech about Gaza after receiving his honorary degree from the University of Manchester on Monday.
The Man City manager, who was awarded with an honorary doctorate degree for his contribution to the city during his nine years at the Etihad, admitted the war is Gaza ‘hurts all [his] body’ and sent a powerful warning to those who are turning a blind eye.
Guardiola joined Manchester City in 2016, succeeding Manuel Pellegrini, and has since won a rich array of honours including six Premier League titles, four League Cups, two FA Cups and a Champions League trophy.
Upon receiving his latest honour, which was presented to him by the university’s chancellor, Nazir Afzal, at Whitworth Hall, Guardiola took the opportunity to speak politically about Gaza.
‘It’s so painful what we see in Gaza. It hurts all my body,’ the Spaniard said.
‘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.
Pep Guardiola gave a politically-charged speech on Gaza after receiving his honorary degree
A view of the harrowing destruction of Gaza, taken from the Israeli side of the border in May
![The Manchester City manager has admitted the 'nightmare' in Gaza 'hurts all [his] body'](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/06/10/08/99209357-14796849-image-a-8_1749540395547.jpg)
The Manchester City manager has admitted the ‘nightmare’ in Gaza ‘hurts all [his] body’
‘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 hours. 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.’
He continued: ‘Maybe this image feels far away from where we are living now. And you might ask what we can do.
‘There’s a story I’m reminded of. A forest is on fire. All the animals live terrified, helpless. But the small bird flies back and forth to the sea, back and forth carrying drops of water in this little beak.
‘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.
‘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.’
Earlier this week, the UN warned that Gaza is facing ‘atrocious levels of death and destruction’ and demanded that Israel allow a ‘flood of aid’ into the city.
Guardiola has won a rich array of honours during his nine years at Man City, including six Premier League titles, four League Cups, two FA Cups and a Champions League trophy
Earlier this week, the UN warned that Gaza is now facing ‘atrocious levels of death and destruction’ and demanded that Israel allow a ‘flood of aid’ into the Palestinian city
Antonio Guterres, the UN secretary-general, said the prohibition of key supplies and strict quotas are being unnecessarily imposed.
He said: ‘All the aid authorised until now amounts to a teaspoon of aid when a flood of assistance is required. The needs are massive and the obstacles are staggering.’
According to Guterres, there are 9,000 trucks of supplies being held with only small levels of aid having been allowed into Palestine following Israel’s 11-week-long blockade on food, fuel, water and medicine.
Meanwhile, Guardiola also spoke about his love of Manchester upon receiving his honorary degree, admitting that the city is now ‘part of [his] bones’.
He said: ‘Catalonia is my hometown, but Manchester will remain something unique for the rest of my life. 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.’
Guardiola with children Valentina (front centre), Maria (centre right) and Marius (left) in 2018
Guardiola and his wife Cristina Serra are ‘still estranged’ following their shock split in January
Their eldest daughter Maria has previously opened up on her parents’ lessons about love
Mail Sport reported in May how Guardiola and his wife Cristina Serra are ‘still estranged’ and ‘will remain so’ unless anything dramatic occurs.
It was claimed in April that the couple were trying to give their marriage a second chance after Guardiola and his fashion entrepreneur wife spent three days together at their former Barcelona marital home over Easter.
The couple’s eldest daughter Maria opened up on her parents’ lessons about love after becoming the first family member to speak since the shock news of their split, which was first reported in January.
The influencer and fashionista said in a Spanish magazine interview published around the same time her dad’s break-up with Cristina emerged: ‘My parents have always advised me to find what I am passionate about.
‘They encourage me to try new things, to accept failure and to keep searching until I find my calling, because when I do, full dedication will come naturally. They also remind me that the most important thing in life is to love and be loved.’
The 24-year-old went on to tell Vanity Fair Spain: ‘In the end it all comes down to feeling loved.
‘Even in situations where we feel out of place, they tell me to listen carefully to others, there is always something valuable to learn from each person we meet.’
