Pep Guardiola wants a decision quickly on whether Mikel Arteta will be Arsenal's next manager.
The pair have spoken in detail about the situation and the Manchester City manager has long held the same attitude regarding Arteta as he has his players: if they no longer want to be at the club, he will not stand in their way.
However, as Arsenal's interest in the coach has intensified — partly as a result of their dismal performance against the Premier League champions on Sunday — it has become more of a pressing issue for City and dominated Guardiola's press conference ahead of their Carabao Cup quarter-final with Oxford.
It adds to the growing list of issues that have hung over the club this year, with investigations over Financial Fair Play and a racism storm over a Bernardo Silva tweet proving unwanted distractions.
After feigning horror at the focus on his assistant, who is set to travel with the team down to Oxford, City's manager said that he wants and expects a decision soon.
"I'd like it to happen quickly, I think it's going to happen quick. Whether it's going to happen or not, I don't know," he said.
"You know my opinion about Mikel. He's a professional human being and a person, I don't have doubts about that. If he stays I'd be happy, incredible, because we all work together really well - hopefully he can feel the same as me or with us.
"If he decides to move I'll wish him all the best, for him, his family and for his professional future...and I will beat him. That's a joke! The best of luck."
Despite friction at boardroom level at Arsenal not detailing to City the full extent of their approach for Arteta, Guardiola has no issues with his colleague and sees such behind-the-scenes contact as normal for the way the business works.
Given the interest from the Gunners, the Blues might be expected to have planned to replace such a key member of staff. However, the manager cited the departure of former No.2 Domenec Torrent in 2018, who wasn't replaced, as he claimed that he has not put any thought into City's next move should Arteta leave.
"We have a structure and we've worked that way for the last three years. Dome left last season and we didn't replace him and now we'll see what happens," Guardiola added.
"Maybe we'll replace him, maybe not, maybe we take someone if that happens. I'm talking hypothetically - I don't know what is going to happen honestly.
"If he stays, he stays, okay nothing changes. If he leaves I'll answer okay. The squad is the same...honestly I didn't think about it."