‘Why should I not express what I feel’ - Guardiola hits back at criticism after support for Palestinian children

The City boss, who has been at the helm since 2016, recently used a press conference to voice his "hurt" over the suffering of victims in conflict zones worldwide, stating his desire to use his platform to help build "a better society."

His passionate remarks drew a mixed reaction, with some praising his stance, while others criticised him.

The Spanish manager was told to "focus on football" and be more cautious with his comments on global conflicts.

However, when asked by BBC Sport to respond, the 55-year-old stood his ground. "To be honest, I didn't say anything special. I don't feel that," Guardiola stated, refusing to back down from his comments.

The discussion follows a speech Guardiola gave last week at a charity event in his native Barcelona, where he spoke in support of Palestinian children. 

He later expanded on these sentiments before City's Carabao Cup semi-final, referencing the impact of conflicts in Palestine, Ukraine, and Sudan, as well as recent events in the United States involving Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents.

The Jewish Representative Council of Greater Manchester & Region claimed that Guardiola had "let down" the club by "repeatedly straying into commentary on international affairs."

Speaking ahead of Sunday's Premier League clash with Liverpool, Guardiola reiterated his position. "Why should I not express what I feel, just because I am a manager? I don't agree but I respect absolutely all opinions," he said.

"What I said basically is how many conflicts are there right now all around the world? A lot—I condemn all of them. If innocent people are being killed, I condemn them all and not putting a selection on one being more important than the other."

When questioned if he would now stick to football-related topics, Guardiola challenged the premise. "OK you focus on being a journalist and you cannot talk about the economy, because you are not an economic journalist," he retorted. 

"That's why the world remains silent, that is what the world wants, right? Be silent, don't say anything. I think it is completely the opposite."