Pep Guardiola walked into Old Trafford with the weight of a wounded season already heavy on his shoulders, and by the time he walked back out, that weight felt crushing. Manchester City did not just lose 2-0 to Manchester United, they looked lost, tired, unsure, and strangely empty of the confidence that once made them feared across Europe. This was not the usual Guardiola team that controlled matches, suffocated opponents, and turned pressure into goals. This was a City side that looked second best from the first whistle to the last, a team chasing shadows, misplacing passes, and offering very little belief that they could turn things around. When the final whistle blew, it did not feel like just another defeat. It felt like a moment, a warning sign, maybe even the beginning of an ending that many never believed would come so soon.
Manchester United, under Michael Carrick, played with hunger and clarity. They had already beaten City 3-0 earlier in the season, and this was their chance to reclaim full bragging rights in a city that lives and breathes football. Goals from Bryan Mbeumo and Patrick Dorgu in the second half sealed the result, but the scoreline barely told the full story. City were lucky it ended at two. United were sharper, faster, and more aggressive. They wanted it more. For long periods, City looked like passengers, unable to impose themselves on a derby they once dominated.
One statistic summed up the crisis better than any long analysis. Erling Haaland, the goal machine, the striker who once scored for fun, has now gone seven consecutive appearances without a non-penalty goal in all competitions. This is his longest dry spell since playing in a top five European league. For a team built around control and ruthless finishing, that number is alarming. When Haaland stops scoring, City struggle. When City struggle, questions are asked. And when questions are asked about Pep Guardiola, the noise becomes deafening.
The defeat at Old Trafford was not just another loss in the Premier League title race. It was a blow that could shape the rest of the season. Those three dropped points mean City are now vulnerable in the table. Aston Villa can leapfrog them if they beat Everton, while Arsenal sit comfortably at the top, pulling away with every passing week. The dream of lifting the league title in May suddenly feels distant, and for a club used to winning almost everything under Guardiola, that feeling is unfamiliar and deeply uncomfortable.
Last season was already strange for City. They finished without a trophy, something that felt almost impossible during Guardiola’s golden years. Many believed it was just a temporary dip, a season where things did not quite click, but normal service would resume. Now, with another campaign slipping away, the doubts are growing. Guardiola signed a new two-year deal in November 2024, committing himself to the club until the summer of 2027. At the time, it felt like a statement of stability and belief. Now, it feels like a contract being questioned by reality.
After the derby defeat, former Sky Sports presenter Richard Keys dropped a bombshell that sent shockwaves through the football world. Speaking on beIN Sports, Keys claimed that Guardiola might not even be in charge for City’s next Premier League match against Wolves on January 24. Not next season. Not next summer. This week. According to Keys, the idea of Guardiola walking away immediately is not just possible, but something that is actively on his mind.
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Keys went even further, saying that while it is nailed on that Guardiola will leave at the end of the season, people should not rule out him leaving right now. He painted a picture of a manager who has had enough, who feels the spark is gone, and who knows that his era at City is ending whether he likes it or not. He suggested that if Guardiola does leave this week, Enzo Maresca would take charge for the Wolves game, even if the club publicly denies everything.
Andy Gray echoed the sentiment, saying enough is enough, while Keys doubled down, insisting Guardiola is gone anyway and that it is only a matter of timing. In his view, Vincent Kompany would come into the frame as a long-term option, but Maresca would be the immediate solution if Guardiola walked away now. It was dramatic, sensational, and controversial, but it tapped into a growing feeling that something is not right at Manchester City.
Guardiola’s record speaks for itself. Six league titles with City since 2016. A points-per-match record that puts him among the greatest managers of all time. Success at Barcelona and Bayern Munich before that. This is not a man who suddenly forgot how to manage. But football has a way of catching up with everyone. Opponents adapt. Players age. Hunger fades. The league becomes tougher. What once felt unstoppable can suddenly feel predictable.
There is a growing sense that Guardiola no longer has the same magic touch, the same pizzazz that allowed him to waltz to league titles. Liverpool winning the league last season with four games to spare felt like a turning point. It showed that City could be beaten over a long campaign, not just in isolated matches. This season is reinforcing that idea. City look like a team searching for answers rather than setting the questions.
The pressure is not just tactical. It is emotional. Guardiola has always been intense, obsessive, demanding. That intensity can inspire greatness, but it can also burn people out, including the manager himself. When results are good, that fire feels powerful. When results are bad, it feels exhausting. There is only so long a manager can keep pushing the same message before it stops landing.
Adding to the intrigue is the situation around Enzo Maresca. The Italian coach, who worked under Guardiola at City, is reportedly high on the club’s list of potential replacements. He knows the club, understands the philosophy, and has already shown his ability as a manager. His recent exit from Chelsea, after a 2-2 draw with Bournemouth on December 30, has left him available and considering his options.
According to reports, Maresca did not even do media duties after that Chelsea game, as he weighed up his future. Manchester City have already spoken to him, as have Juventus. There is no guarantee he would be offered the City job immediately if Guardiola leaves, but the fact that conversations have already taken place speaks volumes. Clubs do not make those calls unless they feel something could happen.
Maresca is widely regarded as one of the brightest coaching minds in football. His connection to City could make the transition smoother, especially if Guardiola were to leave suddenly. But replacing a legend is never easy. Whoever follows Guardiola will be compared to him at every turn, judged not just on results but on style, dominance, and trophies. That is a heavy burden for any manager, no matter how talented.
There is also the mention of Vincent Kompany, a club legend, a leader, and someone who understands the City identity deeply. His name coming into the frame feels emotional, almost poetic. A former captain returning to guide the club into a new era. But football decisions are rarely that simple, and sentiment does not always equal success.
For now, Guardiola remains in charge. He will prepare for the Wolves game, face the media, and talk about reactions, mentality, and improvements. That is what he does. But the noise around him is louder than ever. Every press conference will be analysed. Every team selection will be questioned. Every dropped point will feel like confirmation that the end is near.
The fans are divided. Some believe Guardiola deserves patience and respect for everything he has given the club. Others feel the cycle is complete and that City need fresh energy, new ideas, and a different voice. Even among supporters, there is an acceptance that eras come to an end. The question is not if, but when.
What makes this moment so dramatic is the timing. Leaving at the end of a season feels natural. Leaving mid-season feels chaotic. It would suggest a breaking point has been reached, a moment where continuing feels worse than walking away. If Guardiola does leave this week, it would be one of the most shocking managerial exits in modern football.
Yet, football has taught us never to say never. Managers who look finished often find a way to reinvent themselves. Teams written off often respond with pride. Guardiola has been doubted before and answered in the strongest way possible. There is still time for City to recover, to go on a run, to close the gap, and to remind everyone why they dominated English football for so long.
But the signs are worrying. The performances are flat. The hunger looks reduced. The aura is fading. Opponents no longer fear City in the same way. Old Trafford was supposed to be a statement. Instead, it became a symbol of decline.
As the Premier League season rolls on, every match feels like a referendum on Guardiola’s future. Wolves at the Etihad is no longer just another fixture. It is a test of authority, belief, and direction. Whether Guardiola is on the touchline or not, the spotlight will be intense.
All good things do come to an end, even the greatest reigns. Guardiola’s time at Manchester City has been historic, transformative, and unforgettable. He changed English football, raised standards, and delivered success on a scale few could imagine. If this is the beginning of the end, it deserves to be remembered with respect, not just criticism.
For now, the rumours swirl, the debates rage, and the uncertainty grows. Guardiola could leave at the end of the season. He could leave this week. Or he could stay and fight, proving once again that writing him off is a mistake. Football loves drama, and right now, Manchester City and Pep Guardiola are at the centre of it all. The next few days may tell us whether this story is heading towards a dramatic farewell or an unexpected revival.
