Pep Guardiola 'could give up on future with Man City' after body language showed '20 red flags'

Pep Guardiola's time at Manchester City could be about to end abruptly, according to a body language expert. The expert noticed several “red flags” in the Spaniard's behavior on Tuesday. Guardiola is in the middle of a crisis he has never faced in his professional life.

After losing an unprecedented five games on the bounce, his City side drew 3-3 against Feyenoord in the Champions League while leading 3-0 with 15 minutes remaining. It was the first time in the history of the competition that a team had failed to achieve victory after leading by three or more goals with a quarter of an hour remaining – and it happened at the one of the favorites of the tournament.

In his post-match press conference, Guardiola showed some distress, and body language specialist Darren Stanton claimed the 53-year-old looked like “a broken man”. Speaking to OLBG, he said: “There are about 20 red flags in his behavior. There are combinations of anger, frustration and devastation.

“These are normal things to expect from someone in his situation, but he has had disappointments before and hasn't been as lively as against Feyenoord. He buries his head in his hands, and it's the opposite of that. 'a power position, which would be with his hands on his hips and his feet apart.

“He's almost in a fetal position and trying to curl himself into a ball, it's like he just wants the current situation he's in to end. He wants it to end. He's going through purgatory, and I think these are the most extreme gestures we've seen him make.

Guardiola signed a two-year contract extension at the Etihad Stadium earlier this month, believed to end weeks of speculation over his future. But Stanton says his behavior Tuesday indicates a desire to leave the club.

“I really think he feels like he won't be at Manchester City for long,” he added. “He's down, he's disappointed, he's angry, when we mention players he turns his face away, which suggests they're going to have fun.”

Regarding City fans, Stanton also claimed that Guardiola behaved like a man who didn't know how to solve the problems he faced. “[Guardiola] is absolutely at the end of his patience,” he continued. “He touches his head, shrugs his shoulders and makes hand-to-mouth gestures.

“He puts on a fake smile and keeps talking about what his team already has rather than what needs to change. I think he has no idea how he's going to change things. Non-verbally, he says that they have no problem, which means that he cannot develop a strategy for the future that would end this situation.”

A small cut was spotted on Guardiola's nose, as well as what appeared to be scratches on the top of his head after the match. Asked about the former, the former Barcelona coach admitted he had scratched himself before inappropriately joking: “I want to hurt myself.”

According to Stanton, his sarcastic response was used as a “deflection” tactic, while the scratches demonstrated “extreme anxiety.” He said: “When asked about his cuts, he responds sarcastically, and this is used as a deflection. The fact that he scratched himself shows extreme anxiety, and I think it's because he thinks he's doing everything right, but it didn't work.”

On Wednesday, Guardiola released a statement on social media explaining how he cut his nose and apologizing to anyone who was offended by his joke. “I was caught off guard by a question at the end of a press conference last night about a scratch that appeared on my face, and he explained to me that a sharp fingernail had accidentally caused it,” he wrote.

“My response was in no way intended to make light of the very serious issue of self-harm. I know that many people struggle with mental health issues every day, and I would like to take this moment to highlight One of the ways people can ask for help is by calling the Samaritans hotline on 116 123 or emailing jo@samaritans.org.

During his managerial career, which includes stints at City, Barcelona, ​​Barcelona B and Bayern Munch, Guardiola has averaged a winning percentage of 72.29 percent. This means that on average his team loses about once every eight matches.

City's current form represents not only the worst in his history as manager, but also City's worst in 18 years. They are also the first reigning top-flight champions to lose five games in one fell swoop since Chelsea achieved the unwanted feat in 1956.

Things could also be about to get worse. Their next match will undoubtedly be the toughest test of the season: a trip to Liverpool. A defeat there would leave them 11 points behind in the title race and could even knock them out of the top four and, if Stanton's assessments are to be believed, could well spell the end of Guardiola's titanic reign in Manchester .