Remember where you heard this first…” Keys has dropped a bombshell that would ROCK world football

The defeat at Old Trafford did more than end Manchester City’s hopes of an easy afternoon. It cracked open a conversation that many believed would not arrive until much later, if it was ever meant to arrive at all. When the final whistle blew and Manchester United celebrated a deserved 2-0 victory under Michael Carrick, the focus quickly shifted away from the pitch and onto the future of the man who has defined Manchester City’s modern era. Pep Guardiola stood on the touchline, arms folded, expression distant, watching United fans rejoice. Within hours, one of football’s most controversial broadcasters dropped a claim that sent shockwaves through the Premier League.

Richard Keys did not hesitate. Speaking on beIN Sports shortly after the defeat, he suggested that Guardiola’s time at Manchester City may not only be nearing its end, but could be over far sooner than anyone expected. According to Keys, the idea of Guardiola leaving at the end of the season was already settled in his mind. More stunning still was the suggestion that Guardiola could walk away within days, potentially before City’s next Premier League match. It was the kind of claim that sounds unbelievable at first, yet becomes harder to ignore the more context is added.

Manchester City were second in the league heading into the weekend, but the gap to the top suddenly looked dangerous. Arsenal still had a game to play, and victory would stretch their lead to nine points. Aston Villa were also lurking, with the chance to push City down to third. For a club built on dominance, control, and relentless success, this was unfamiliar territory. For Guardiola, it was something even more uncomfortable. Throughout his entire managerial career, he has never gone two consecutive seasons without winning a league title.

At Barcelona, he ruled Spain. At Bayern Munich, he dominated Germany. At Manchester City, he reshaped English football. The idea of finishing another season without lifting the Premier League trophy feels foreign, almost unacceptable, both to Guardiola and to those who have worked closely with him. Keys believes this reality is weighing heavily on the City manager, perhaps more than the club is willing to admit publicly.

The defeat itself told a painful story. United did not steal the win. They earned it. From the opening minutes, they pressed City aggressively, broke their rhythm, and forced mistakes. Guardiola’s side looked unsettled, unable to impose their usual control. Goals from Bryan Mbeumo and Patrick Dorgu in the second half sealed the result, but the damage had been done long before the ball hit the net. City looked like a team questioning itself.

After the match, Guardiola spoke calmly, but his decisions hinted at concern. His late substitutions were made with upcoming fixtures in mind, especially the Champions League trip to Bodo/Glimt. It was an admission that priorities were being balanced, that resources were being stretched. This is not where Guardiola likes to be. He prefers clarity. He prefers control. Right now, both appar fragile.

Richard Keys took that fragility and pushed it into the spotlight. He told viewers that while many expect Guardiola to leave at the end of the season, they should not rule out an immediate departure. He claimed that Guardiola could be gone within the week, potentially before City’s next league match against Wolves. According to Keys, if that happened, Enzo Maresca would step in to take charge.

The suggestion was explosive. Guardiola signed a new two year contract in November 2024, tying him to City until 2027. On paper, his position looks secure. But football is rarely about paper. It is about emotion, pressure, and timing. Keys insisted that the idea of leaving early is on Guardiola’s mind, regardless of what the club may say publicly.

He went further, predicting that Guardiola will definitely leave at the end of the season. In Keys’ view, the decision has already been made. The only question is when. If results continue to slide, if the gap to Arsenal grows, and if the Champions League campaign stumbles, the pressure may become unbearable.

The name Enzo Maresca immediately raised eyebrows. The Italian coach is highly regarded within Manchester City’s structure. He knows the club, the philosophy, and the expectations. He worked as a youth coach during the 2020 and 2021 season before returning as Guardiola’s assistant during the treble winning campaign of 2022 and 2023. He understands Guardiola’s ideas because he helped deliver them.

Since leaving City, Maresca has built an impressive coaching resume. He guided Leicester City with confidence before moving to Chelsea, where he won the Conference League and the Club World Cup. Although he left Chelsea at the start of January, his reputation remains strong. Keys believes that if Guardiola were to walk away suddenly, Maresca would be the immediate choice to steady the ship.

The claim did not stop there. Keys also suggested that Guardiola’s long term replacement is already obvious. Vincent Kompany. The former City captain, now head coach at Bayern Munich, is seen by many as Guardiola’s natural successor. Kompany made 360 appearances for City, captained the side through historic moments, and understands the club’s culture deeply.

Even Guardiola himself has spoken about Kompany’s destiny. In 2023, he said that it was written in the stars that Kompany would one day manage City. He did not say when, but he said it would happen. Those words now feel heavier, more relevant, as speculation grows.

Kompany is under contract at Bayern until 2029, but football contracts rarely stop ambition. If the City job became available, especially under emotional circumstances, it would be difficult for Kompany to ignore. The idea of returning to the Etihad as manager would carry enormous weight, both personally and professionally.

For Manchester City, this speculation is uncomfortable. The club is built on stability. Guardiola has been the constant. His presence has defined their identity. Losing him, especially mid season, would be seismic. That is why Keys believes City will deny everything. That is why official statements will sound calm and confident. But denial does not always reflect reality.

The timing makes the rumours feel sharper. City face Bodo/Glimt in the Champions League on January 20. A difficult away trip. Then comes Wolves on January 24. Two matches that could shape momentum. If Guardiola were to leave before then, it would signal a dramatic shift, one that few saw coming so quickly.

Fans are split. Some dismiss Keys’ comments as sensationalism. He has a history of bold claims and controversial opinions. Others believe there may be truth beneath the noise. Guardiola is an intense figure. He demands perfection from himself as much as from his players. Falling short can weigh heavily on him.

The idea of another trophyless league season may be harder for him to accept than for the club. City can rationalise second place. Guardiola cannot. His standards are absolute. When he feels he can no longer give everything, he has shown before that he is willing to walk away.

At Barcelona, he left when he felt drained. At Bayern, he stepped aside after three years. He has spoken openly about burnout, about the need for energy and motivation. The signs are not always obvious, but when they appear, they matter.

The loss to United was not just tactical. It was emotional. Watching a former club rediscover belief under a new manager while his own side struggled may have stirred something uncomfortable. Guardiola is deeply competitive. Seeing momentum shift elsewhere is painful.

Still, nothing has been confirmed. Guardiola remains in charge. Training continues. Preparations for Bodo/Glimt are underway. City’s players have not been told anything officially. Yet the conversation has started, and once it starts, it rarely stops.

If Guardiola leaves at the end of the season, it will mark the end of an era. If he leaves sooner, it will be one of the most dramatic moments in Premier League history. Either way, the idea that his future is now being openly questioned shows how quickly football can change.

Richard Keys has planted the seed. Whether it grows into reality or fades into noise remains to be seen. But the fact that such a claim feels possible says everything about the current mood around Manchester City. The defeat at Old Trafford may have been just one match, but its consequences are already echoing far beyond ninety minutes.

For now, Guardiola carries on. But the pressure is real. The questions are growing. And the silence from the club only makes the speculation louder. Football moves fast, and even the greatest managers are not immune. Pep Guardiola’s future, once unthinkable to question, is now firmly under the spotlight.