In an unprecedented move, Manchester City’s struggling squad was forced to stay overnight at the club’s training ground ahead of their Boxing Day clash against Everton.
The decision comes after a difficult run of results, with the team losing nine of their last 12 matches, marking the worst form of Pep Guardiola’s managerial career.
Guardiola, speaking ahead of the 12:30 pm kickoff on December 26, revealed that he had instructed his players to leave their family homes on Christmas Day in an effort to reset their mindset and focus on their performance.
The players were required to stay at the training ground, where they trained on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day in preparation for the crucial match.
“We train today (Tuesday), we train tomorrow (Wednesday) night, we will stay over here and we are going to play on Boxing Day,” Guardiola explained. “Hopefully, they want to be here, because it’s our job.”
The team’s poor run of form has left many fans concerned, but Guardiola is confident that their collective efforts will soon pay off.
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He acknowledged that the team’s struggles are not just a matter of effort but stem from “many little details or some big details” that have contributed to their recent decline.
Despite the losses, Guardiola remains hopeful: “We have players coming back and at a certain time, we will be better,” he said. “It’s about us, everyone. The guys are running and making an effort more than ever.”
Manchester City’s last victory came on December 4 against Nottingham Forest, but with a difficult stretch of matches ahead, the pressure is mounting on Guardiola and his squad.
The team will be hoping to bounce back with a strong performance against Everton on Boxing Day.