Guardiola exit rumours swirl after shock defeat

January 21, 2026 Oliver Obel

Questions about Pep Guardiola’s long-term future at Manchester City have intensified following a damaging Champions League defeat in Norway, where a disjointed performance exposed deeper issues inside the squad.

The fallout from City’s 3-1 loss to Bodo/Glimt on Tuesday night extended beyond the result itself, with player frustration, supporter anger and renewed speculation about Guardiola’s commitment dominating the aftermath.

European setback compounds City concerns

Still recovering from a weekend defeat to Manchester United, City struggled from the outset at Aspmyra Stadion, where the Norwegian champions outworked and outplayed the Premier League side in freezing conditions.

In front of 404 travelling City supporters, Bodo/Glimt recorded their first-ever Champions League victory. Kasper Hogh scored twice and Jens Petter Hauge added a third as the hosts capitalised on City’s defensive lapses and lack of control.

Erling Haaland offered a blunt assessment of the display afterwards. Calling the performance “embarrassing,” the striker apologised directly to supporters who made the trip, saying: “I just apologise to everyone; every single Man City supporter and every single supporter that travelled today.”

City’s night unravelled further following a red card for Rodri, leaving Guardiola’s side short-handed as they chased the game with little cohesion.

Guardiola acknowledges fragility

Guardiola did not attempt to disguise the scale of the problem in his post-match comments. “Everything is going wrong,” he admitted, pointing to injuries and inconsistency within the squad.

“We arrived in some departments without important players who give consistency to the team,” he said. “They are a little bit fragile, [as] they were last season in a certain period.”

The remarks reflected a broader sense that City’s usual authority particularly in difficult away fixtures has been eroding during a turbulent stretch of the campaign.

Fans question leadership and response

Among the travelling supporters was Manchester City fan Big Steve, who later shared his reaction online. While praising Bodo/Glimt’s intensity, he was sharply critical of City’s lack of urgency.

“There was no fight there, there was no spirit there,” he said, describing City’s approach as overly passive and predictable. He added that the away support “deserved better” after enduring harsh conditions to back the team.

Steve also drew attention to Guardiola’s demeanour after the final whistle, suggesting the manager’s interaction with the away end appeared unusual. “It didn’t look good,” he said, without expanding further.

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Exit speculation returns

The defeat has added fuel to ongoing speculation about Guardiola’s future, particularly after comments made by former Sky Sports presenter Richard Keys on beIN Sports.

Keys claimed Guardiola is “nailed on” to leave Manchester City when his contract expires and suggested an exit could come sooner rather than later. Writing in his blog, Keys argued that Guardiola “has been checked out all season,” citing what he viewed as uncharacteristic body language in recent matches.

According to Keys, conversations with people close to the manager reinforced his belief that the situation is more advanced than publicly acknowledged. Manchester City have not responded to the claims.

For now, Guardiola remains in charge, but as performances falter and scrutiny grows, the pressure surrounding City’s direction and their manager’s future shows no sign of easing.

Sources: beIN Sports