Pep Guardiola made an impassioned plea for the protection of human life as he delivered an emotional speech during a press conference in which the Manchester City manager spoke out against violence and injustice around the world, months before the United States co-hosts the World Cup with Mexico and Canada.
Guardiola broadened the discussion beyond football ahead of the Carabao Cup semi-final second leg at Manchester City on Tuesday, drawing attention to a number of global tragedies and expressing particular concern over the fatal shootings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti during immigration operations in Minnesota.
The deaths of Good and Pretti sparked protests across the United States, and Guardiola said he was deeply affected by the incident.
“Look what happened in the United States of America, Renee Good and Alex Pretti were killed,” Guardiola said. “Never, never in human history have we had information before our eyes and watched it more clearly than we do now.”
The 55-year-old went on to talk about conflicts and loss of life in several parts of the world.
“Genocide in Palestine, what happened in Ukraine, what happened in Russia, what happened all over the world, in Sudan, everywhere,” he said, referring to the Israeli-occupied Palestinian territories. “What happened in front of us? Do you want to see it? It’s our problems as human beings. It’s our problems.”
Guardiola’s comments come five months before the FIFA World Cup in North America, a tournament that will focus global attention on the region.
Returning to the shootings in Minnesota, Guardiola asked how such actions could be justified.
“Look at what happened in the United States of America, Renee Good and Alex Pretti were killed. Tell me how you can defend that,” he said. “When I see those pictures, I’m sorry, it hurts. That’s why in any position where I can help speak for a better society, I’m going to try and be there. All the time. It’s for my kids, my families, for you.”
He emphasized that although no society is perfect, the responsibility lies with everyone. “There is no perfect society, nowhere is perfect, I’m not perfect, we have to work to be better.”
Guardiola also highlighted Pretti’s profession to highlight the human cost of the incident. “Nurse, NHS. Imagine NHS. Five, six people around him, going to weed and 10 shots,” he said, referring to Pretti, who worked as an intensive care nurse at a U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs hospital. “Tell me, how can you defend it?”
The City manager’s speech, which began as a response to a question about refereeing, came days after he appeared at a rally in Barcelona in support of Palestinian children. Guardiola attended the event on Thursday night and was unavailable for a scheduled media conference in Manchester on Friday, with his assistant Pep Lijnders handling media duties ahead of Sunday’s game against Tottenham Hotspur.
Guardiola said speaking out was a responsibility he felt compelled to shoulder.
“The protection of the human being and human life is all we have,” he said. “Not just in these parts of the world, but in all parts of the world.
“What’s happening right now, with the technology and advancements we have, humanity is better than ever in terms of options. We can reach the moon, we can do everything. But right now we’re killing each other. For what? For what?”
He concluded by reaffirming his determination to use his platform to call for change. “When I see those images, I feel sorry, it hurts me. Therefore, in any position where I can help by talking about a better society, I will try and be there.”
– The end
Issued by:
Saurabh Kumar
Published on:
February 4, 2026