Manchester City’s players will spend Christmas night at their Etihad Campus training facilities as they look to break their alarming run of poor form.
The Blues will host Everton at 12:30pm on Boxing Day, following a stretch of just one win in their last 12 matches across all competitions.
While the team typically stays together the night before a home game, manager Pep Guardiola has insisted that the routine will remain unchanged, even during the festive period.
Manchester City’s players spent Christmas morning with their families before reconvening at the training ground for an evening session.
Afterward, they will settle in for the night ahead of the crucial match against Everton.
“We train today (Tuesday), we train tomorrow (Wednesday) night, we will stay over here and we are going to play on Boxing Day,” Guardiola said.
When asked whether his players might object to spending Christmas night at the training ground, Guardiola was characteristically direct. The Spaniard bluntly replied: “Hopefully they want to be here, because it’s our job.”
Man City’s dismal run of form stretched into Saturday, as they were beaten 2-1 by Aston Villa.
Remarkably, this means they enter the busy festive period in seventh place in the Premier League, despite having been crowned champions in each of the last four seasons.
Guardiola’s side now find themselves behind clubs like Nottingham Forest and Bournemouth, and a staggering 12 points adrift of league leaders Liverpool.
With the festive fixtures piling up, Guardiola and his players must focus on getting back on track and securing a top-four finish to ensure Champions League football for next season.
The club are also still grappling with the cloud of the 115 charges hanging over them, adding further pressure during this difficult time.
Amid their continued struggles, Guardiola said: “This situation is new for all of us. It’s about us, everyone. The guys are running and making an effort more than ever.
“People say we are not running, fighting, it’s this player, this manager – it is not about that. It is about many little details or some big details that make us not as good as we were.
“But we have another opportunity on Boxing Day. We have players coming back and at a certain time we will be better.”
Read more: Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola remains cautious ahead of facing tricky Everton
Liverpool boss Arne Slot delivers Christmas message to supporters
Cody Gakpo hopeful Mohamed Salah will extend Liverpool contract
