MANCHESTER — Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola said he did not intend to make light of the "very serious issue of self harm" with a joke he made after Tuesday's 3-3 draw with Feyenoord at Etihad Stadium.
Guardiola was asked in the post-match press conference how he got a cut on his nose, and he replied: "With my finger, my nail. I want to harm myself." The 53-year-old took to social media on Wednesday to explain his answer.
Pep Guardiola harm myself comment
I know that many people struggle with mental health issues every day, and I would like to take this moment to highlight one of the ways in people can seek help, by calling the Samaritans hotline on 116 123 or emailing jo@samaritans.org (3/3)
— PepTeam (@PepTeam) November 27, 2024
Pep Guardiola on those cuts: “With my fingers… I want to harm myself”.
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) November 26, 2024
"I was caught off guard with a question at the end of a press conference last night about a scratch which had appeared on my face and explained that a sharp fingernail had accidentally caused this," he posted on X.
"My answer was in no way intended to make light of the very serious issue of self harm. I know that many people struggle with mental health issues every day, and I would like to take this moment to highlight one of the ways in people can seek help, by calling the Samaritans hotline on 116 123 or emailing jo@samaritans.org."
(Reporting by Lori Ewing, Editing by Christian Radnedge)
