Manchester City will spend Christmas preparing for their Boxing Day clash against Everton, as manager Pep Guardiola looks to steer the team out of a rare slump in form. Speaking ahead of the festive fixtures, Guardiola confirmed the team would train on both Christmas Eve and Christmas evening in a bid to regain their rhythm.
“We’ll train this afternoon and again tomorrow evening,” Guardiola stated. “After today’s session, the players will go home to spend time with their families and have Christmas morning at home. But by the evening, I expect everyone here at the training ground. It’s our duty.”
City’s struggles on the pitch have coincided with a mounting injury list, leaving Guardiola unsure about which players will be available for selection. “We’ll see this afternoon how many players we have fit. At the moment, I don’t know,” the Catalan coach said, showing a touch of frustration.
The current dip in form marks the first significant crisis of Guardiola’s managerial career, and he remains focused on a collective solution. “The problem isn’t down to individuals—it’s a team issue,” he explained. “People say we’re not running, not fighting, that it’s this player’s fault or that player’s, but it’s not true. This is new for all of us, but we’ll come through it together. The players are working harder than ever. It’s a lot of small details that aren’t working, but we have the quality to bounce back and come back stronger.”
As City prepare for their Boxing Day fixture, Guardiola will hope that the extra preparation pays off, helping the team to rediscover their sharpness and re-establish themselves in the Premier League title race.
