Pep Guardiola ends his farewell speech by saying something he “wasn’t allowed to,” as Sky Sports issues an apology.
Sky Sports apologized to viewers after Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola used his six-minute farewell speech to say something he hadn’t been allowed to before.
Guardiola managed his 593rd and final match with City on Sunday, finishing with a 2-1 loss against Aston Villa at the Etihad. It was a very emotional day for him after a hugely successful ten years, during which he won six Premier League titles, three FA Cups, five League Cups, and a Champions League.
To wrap up his time at the club, Guardiola gave a heartfelt farewell to the fans who stayed behind. He also paid tribute to his 94-year-old father, Valenti, who had come from Spain for the occasion. He spoke about the new ‘Pep Guardiola Stand’ and shared how much love he’s felt from City supporters. In fact, he invited fans to “come and hug me” if they see him around town.
He said, “A minute of silence, please. I’m so nervous, terrified. Why do you love me so much? Why do you do that to me? I never imagined this much love. It’s a huge honor to be your manager. I hope we gave you amazing moments and feelings that make people smile when they come here.”
“From day one, this has been my home,” he added. “In the years ahead, if you’re a City fan and see me on the street, come and hug me. I really mean it.”
Pep ended his speech with some colorful language, saying it’s been “f****** fun” to spend the last 10 years with City—a line that was probably left out of the club’s farewell video online. “Like I said, it’s been a huge honor to represent this club. Every choice I made was for what’s best here. I love you all so much. Let me finish what I said a few days ago but couldn’t say before… it’s been ‘f****** fun.’”
This brought one of the biggest cheers of the day at the Etihad. Sky Sports quickly apologized for the strong language.
Guardiola was also moved to tears after every Aston Villa player joined the City team in giving Bernardo Silva a guard of honor as he left the pitch in his last City game.
It was a touching moment for Silva, who leaves City when his contract ends in June. The 33-year-old, who has appeared in over 450 matches during his nine years in Manchester, was seen wiping away tears before stepping onto the Etihad pitch one last time.
In the 58th minute, the Portuguese midfielder received a standing ovation from everyone in the stadium, including the visiting players. In fact, Unai Emery’s team formed a guard of honor for Silva, which brought Guardiola to tears.
Talking about that moment in his farewell speech, Guardiola said, “I don’t usually cry, but when I see Bernardo cry, I cry too. I told him not to cry, but it happened. It was such a special moment for him. He said he was so tired he couldn’t run. The emotions were so strong. I’ll never forget Fernandinho coming from Brazil to be here, along with Eddie, Gundo, and all the guys in the video, for John and Bernie for everything they’ve done this decade. They are machines—win after win.”