PEP GUARDIOLA has revealed that his Manchester City side will be staying overnight at the club’s training ground on Christmas Day.
The Spanish gaffer told the media that his struggling squad will be spending the night at the facilities ahead of their clash with Everton on Boxing Day.
City extended their dismal run of form at the weekend with a 2-1 defeat to Aston Villa and will be hoping to bounce back against the Toffees tomorrow.
And Guardiola is making sure that he doesn’t break the usual pre-match routine by ensuring his players spend the night at the training ground prior to the 12:30pm kick off at the Etihad Stadium.
When asked about his side’s preparations, he said: “We train today (Tuesday), we train tomorrow (Wednesday) night, we will stay over here and we are going to play on Boxing Day.”
City’s stars were given time to spend with their families earlier in the week and were able to spend Christmas morning and afternoon with their loved ones before heading to the Etihad Campus for their evening training session later in the day.
Guardiola claimed he hoped his players wouldn’t mind being at work for the evening, explaining it’s part of their job.
He added: “Hopefully they want to be here, because it’s our job.”
It’s common practice for squads to get together on Christmas day, especially when playing on Boxing Day.
City will be hoping that a home clash against 15th placed Everton will give them an opportunity to rediscover some form after a torrid run has seen them win just once in their last 12 GAMES in all competitions.
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The four-in-a-row champions have been the Premier League’s worst performers since the start of November, picking up only FOUR POINTS in the last two months.
While they currently sit seventh in the league table, some 12 points off league leaders Liverpool.
Despite getting the team in for Christmas Day, Guardiola has done his best to keep moral high amid the club’s rough patch this season.
The experienced manager and his team allowed the squad to bring their partners to the Christmas party.
Pictures shared on Instagram showed Ilkay Gundogan posing with wife Sara alongside Bernardo Silva and his partner Ines Degener Tomaz.
And in another snap Kevin de Bruyne shared a kiss with wife Michele Lacroix.
Premier League clubs’ Christmas parties do not usually include players’ partners, though it is not known whether this is the custom for Man City.
Guardiola emphasised that the whole club is trying to get to grips with the task of reigniting their season, highlighting Everton as an opportunity to get the ball rolling.
“This situation is new for all of us. It’s about us, everyone. The guys are running and making an effort more than ever,” he said.
“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.”
