It has become almost routine, but Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola continues to speak out sharply against Israel. In an interview with RAC1 ahead of Tuesday’s match in Barcelona between the Catalonia national team and Palestine, Guardiola delivered several especially provocative remarks.
Guardiola urged fans to fill Barcelona’s Olympic Stadium for the friendly. “People around the world know everything, and with this match the Palestinians will see that there are parts of the world that think about them,” he said. He then leveled harsh criticism at what he called global indifference. “The world left Palestine alone. We did nothing. They are not to blame for being born there. We all allowed a whole people to be wiped out. The damage has already been done and it is irreversible,” he said.
Guardiola did not spare world leaders either. “I cannot imagine anyone in the world who can defend the massacre in Gaza. Our children could have been there and been killed just because they were born there. I have very little faith in leaders. They will do anything to stay in power,” he said.
He was also asked about the possibility of returning one day to coach Barcelona, the club where he became one of the greatest managers in history. “Barcelona gave me everything as a player and as a coach. I am not ruling out Barcelona, but there is a dynamic. Today there are young coaches with more hunger,” he said.
Guardiola also reflected on his tenure at Manchester City, where he recently reached 1,000 matches on the touchline. “In the end you remember the decisive moments, the important games. We won more than 700 matches out of 1,000. We did an excellent job. I am sorry for those who do not like us,” he said.
Pep Guardiola is one of the most accomplished managers in world football. He has won 36 titles with the three clubs he has coached: 12 with Barcelona, 7 with Bayern Munich and 17 with Manchester City. He lifted the Champions League trophy with City in 2023, the club’s first in its history.