Bayern Munich are prepared for life after Pep Guardiola, the club's CEO Karl-Heinz Rummenigge has said, with a decision on whether the Catalan coach will stay set to be announced before Christmas.
Guardiola has entered the final few months of his first contract at Bayern and the former Barcelona coach has yet to commit his future to the Bundesliga club.
Earlier this month, Rummenigge announced that a decision will be made one way or the other during the winter break.
Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, Rummenigge said Bayern are prepared for a Guardiola exit, and confirmed talks are scheduled for after the final match of 2015 at Hanover on Dec. 19.
"It is not planned to push back that date," he said. "We have always said there will be a decision in 2015. I know that it's a late, just days before Christmas. But the talks will be held after the Hannover match, and we'll then announce a decision."
While Bayern hope to extend the Catalan's stay, the club are not concerned about a potential exit for Guardiola.
"It always continues. There is no person in this world who can't be replaced at some point," Rummenigge said. "That's the state of things. Players come, players go, and the same applies to coaches. They come and they go at one point."
Rummenigge reflected on 1977 when Franz Beckenbauer left the club for New York Cosmos.
"The papers wrote back then that the world's ending at FC Bayern. But after three months of irritation, Bayern returned," Rummenigge said.
However, in Bayern's first season without their star player, the Bavarians finished the league in 12th position, and only returned to the top of Bundesliga in 1980.
Bayern have continued their impressive run in Germany, where they are on course to win a record fourth consecutive championship, and have also impressed in Europe amid the ongoing discussion on Guardiola's future.
"I am totally relaxed," Rummenigge said. "The club's been treating this in a relaxed and very staid way. We've had this discussion since the summer, and there has been no unrest. Quite the opposite, everyone's been very focused in their work. Maybe it's good to have a bit of suspense."
Meanwhile, Thomas Muller has said that he is enjoying life at Bayern, but is in no rush to sign a new deal.
The record-breaking attacker is under contract until 2019, and there had been reports earlier this month that he is set to sign a new improved contract to halt interest from the likes of Manchester United.
On Monday, kicker reported that a new deal has still to be agreed upon, and, on Thursday, Muller told the paper about a new improved deal.
He said: "Things are really well on the sporting side. That's a super state for the team and also for me. I feel great at the club. We'll see about the rest."