BeIN Sports host Richard Keys made the claim in the hours after Manchester City’s 2-0 away defeat at Old Trafford to Manchester United.
Talking about Pep Guardiola’s future at Manchester City
Guardiola failed to lead Manchester City to victory at Old Trafford. Second-half goals from Bryan Mbeumo and Patrick Dorgu gave Michael Carrick’s United a deserved three-point victory.
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Manchester City are currently in second place in the Premier League, but could end up in third place if Aston Villa beat Everton on Sunday.
Another season without a league title would be uncharted territory for Guardiola, who has never gone two seasons in a row without winning a championship in his coaching career with Barcelona, Bayern Munich and Manchester City.
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If results do not improve, there will be more questions about Guardiola’s future at the Etihad, despite signing a new two-year contract in November 2024, which runs until 2027.
However, BeIN Sports host Richard Keys believes that there is a possibility that he will not be on the bench for Manchester City’s game against Wolves on January 24. (Before that, on January 20, the team will face Bodø/Glimt in the Champions League.)
“I think [it’s] a clear thing that [Guardiola] will disappear at the end of the season, but… don’t rule out him leaving the club this week,” Keys said on beIN Sports.
“This week. And if he disappears this week, [Enzo] Maresca will take over responsibility for the game against Wolves next week.
“Manchester City will be furious. Of course, they will deny it, but it is in his mind, I assure you. He is considering leaving the club this week…”
Keys then insisted that Guardiola will definitely leave the club at the end of the year, before hinting that former Manchester City captain and current Bayern Munich coach Vincent Kompany will replace him in the summer.
The broadcaster then stood firm on his view and reiterated that he believes Maresca, who left Chelsea on January 1, will take over if Guardiola disappears in the coming days.
Maresca is said to be highly valued at the club, having previously worked for Manchester City on two separate occasions – first as a youth coach in 2020/21, before becoming an assistant to Guardiola in the first team in the treble-winning 2022/23 season.
The Italian has since coached Leicester City and Chelsea, where he won the Conference League and Club World Cup last season.
As for Kompany, he is under contract with Bayern Munich until 2029, but could be tempted by the Manchester City job, given that he made 360 appearances for the club in his playing career.
Even Guardiola has predicted that the Belgian will coach Manchester City at some point.
“His destiny to become coach of Manchester City is already written in the stars,” Guardiola told ManCity.com in 2023.
“It’s going to happen. I don’t know when, but it’s going to happen.”
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