The signs of Guardiola's departure were there

The signs have certainly pointed to a departure in the past week or so.

Last Friday, Pep Guardiola was asked whether the following day's visit to Wembley Stadium would be his last - Guardiola said "no way" because he has "one more year [on his contract]".

But the playful way in which he delivered that line and his 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, perhaps significantly, 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, as he took in his final moments at the national stadium.

And I asked him after the draw at Bournemouth on Tuesday whether he will still be in charge and Guardiola replied by saying he has to talk to his chairman in the next few days.

He surely would have answered by saying "I'm staying" if he was.