Pep Guardiola usually makes headlines when he talks about his future, and as he enters the final 18 months of his current contract at the Etihad he can expect plenty more questions about it.
Despite the big question mark that lingers though, the Manchester City boss has been pretty transparent about his intentions whenever he has been drawn on the subject.
Guardiola has often indicated he will not stay in management all his life, and said before the Southampton game that after 12 years as a manager he does not expect to still be doing the job in another 12. And while he has pledged that he could not manage another English club after City, he has spoken before about other coaching challenges that he would like before retiring - such as a national team job.
City bosses know they can't hang onto Guardiola forever, but they are also aware that he will struggle for a better set-up anywhere else; everything at the Etihad is designed to his wishes, and he has full backing to do what he wants without any outside interference or risk of backlash.
Guardiola has never stayed longer at a club as a result and, as long as he still feels the desire to improve and to eke more out of his players, another contract extension is very much a possibility. Given he went into November of the final year of his last deal before committing, there is a long way to go before there will be any panic at the Etihad over the lack of pen to paper.
His recent comments about not betraying the club stand as a public reiteration to the board that when the time comes for him to leave, they and their succession plans will not be blindsided.
Equally though, the City boss has always made it clear that he would not want to outstay a welcome.
A few rumblings of discontent emerged from the squad last season after the squad's sluggish start in the Premier League, while some of Guardiola's behaviour this year has left some to think this season could be his last.
Ultimately, because of the expectation that the manager will leave on his terms, any uncertainty over his exit suits him.
All players know that they must absolutely buy in to Guardiola's methods to succeed at the club, but at the same time any stars that are out of favour also know that the coach will not be there forever. Everyone is settled, and yet everyone has a reason for staying on edge that keeps everything at the Etihad perfectly balanced. Looking across the league, this is very more difficult than you might think to get right.
