The beginning of the end for Guardiola?
Is this the beginning of the end for Guardiola? On Friday, the manager was asked whether the following day's visit to Wembley Stadium would be his 24th and last for a cup semi-final or final - Guardiola said "no way" because he has "one more year [on his contract]". City won the FA Cup for the third time under Guardiola by beating Chelsea on Saturday and, rather pointily, he took a picture holding the trophy with each member of staff one by one.
[Getty Images] Is this the beginning of the end for Guardiola? The signs have certainly pointed to a possible departure in the past week. On Friday, the manager was asked whether the following day's visit to Wembley Stadium would be his 24th and last for a cup semi-final or final - Guardiola said "no way" because he has "one more year [on his contract]".
But the playful way in which he delivered that line and quick exit from the room raised a few eyebrows and only added to the mounting speculation. City won the FA Cup for the third time under Guardiola by beating Chelsea on Saturday and, rather pointily, he took a picture holding the trophy with each member of staff one by one. The cameras also caught him wistfully looking into the distance when the trophy celebrations were taking place on the pitch - was he searching out a family member in the crowd or taking in his final moments at the national stadium?
City have not made any comments regarding the latest develops and head to Bournemouth on Tuesday, where Guardiola is certain to be asked about his future once again - will be provide a definitive answer or point to "one more year" as he has done throughout this season? Guardiola took charge of his 1,000th career game as manager back in November and may bring down the curtain on Sunday by leading City out for the 593rd time - it would the most games managed by a City manager in the club's history. It would be a poetic way to bow out, whether the title is won or not.