Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has delivered a powerful speech during the acceptance of an honorary degree by the University of Manchester for his contributions to the city both on and off the pitch.

 

Standing up for Gaza amidst the ongoing bloodshed by occupying Israeli forces, the Manchester City manager said it pains him to see what has been unfolding in the region for the past year or so.

 

“It’s so painful what we see in Gaza. It hurts my whole body. And let me be clear, it’s not about ideology. It’s not about whether I'm right, or you’re wrong. Come on… it’s just about the love of life, about the care of your neighbour,” he said while addressing the ceremony at the historic Whitworth Hall.

 

 

“We see innocent four-year-old boys and girls being killed by bombs, thinking it’s not our business… but be careful… the next one will be ours. The next kids will be ours. Sorry, but I see my kids when I wake up every morning since the nightmare started with the infants 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,” he added.

 

Guardiola also spoke on the importance of standing up for what’s right and not taking the backseat thinking about what might happen if one speaks up. “There is a story I’m reminded of... a forest is on fire. All the animals are terrified and helpless but a small bird keeps flying back and forth… to the sea, carrying drops of water in its little beak. A snake laughs and asks, why, ‘You will never put the fire out’, to which the bird replies, ‘Yes, but I'm just doing my part’.”

 

“The bird knows it won’t stop the fire, but it refuses to do nothing. In a world that often tells us we are too small to make a difference, that story reminds me that power is not about the scale. It’s about choice. About showing up, about refusing to be silent, or still when it matters most,” he said.