At the pre-match press conference for Manchester City vs Newcastle United in the second leg of the EFL Cup semi-final, Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola delivered a lengthy speech on a series of humanitarian issues, going beyond the scope of football to defend human peace.
Then he changed the subject and began talking about conflicts and sufferings around the world. Guardiola said: “In the history of humanity, we have never, never seen the information in front of us as clearly as we do now: the genocide in Palestine, what is happening in Ukraine, what is happening in Russia, what is happening all over the world, what is happening in Sudan, what is happening everywhere.”
“Everything that is happening in front of us, do you want to see it? This is our human problem, it is our common problem.”
When a reporter then asked why he paid so much attention to these topics, Guardiola responded: “I appreciate this question, it's the first time a journalist has mentioned this to me in ten years. It seems that you (the media) are not convenient to talk about these due to the nature of your work. But how can anyone see the images of wars around the world and not be moved? It has nothing to do with right or wrong positions. Is there anyone here who is not moved by what happens every day?”
“Now we can see it with our own eyes, which we couldn't in the past, and it stings me, it stings my heart deeply. Even if the victims are on the opposing side, it stings me just the same. To wish for other countries to suffer? It grieves me. It has nothing to do with positions. I'm sorry, this is my truest feeling. Thousands and thousands of innocent lives are being erased, and it stings me. That's simply the nature of the matter, nothing more. I have many friends from all over the world, but if defending a certain idea requires killing thousands of people - I'm sorry, I will stand up, I will always be there to show my support. Always.”
"I can't understand how people can watch those images day after day, fathers, mothers, children suffering, their lives completely destroyed, and not feel a thing? I'm sorry, I can't comprehend this indifference."
