Who: Leicester Metropolis vs Manchester Metropolis
What: English Premier League
The place: King Energy Stadium, Leicester, United Kingdom
When: 12:30pm (12:30 GMT) on Sunday
Observe Al Jazeera’s dwell textual content and photograph build-up and commentary stream.
Pep Guardiola insists he won’t stroll out on troubled Manchester Metropolis as he strives to cease the champions’ gorgeous decline.
The Spaniard, whose facet go to Leicester Metropolis on Sunday, solely just lately signed a two-year contract extension however Metropolis’s dismal type has raised questions on his future. A nightmare run of nine defeats in 13 games, with only one win in that woeful spell, triggered options the Metropolis boss may resolve to stop if he can not discover a solution to his group’s issues.
Having led Metropolis to 6 Premier League titles prior to now seven seasons, nonetheless, Guardiola is adamant he nonetheless has the starvation to show the state of affairs round.
“I’ll attempt, I’ll preserve going. Typically you assume the dangerous run shall be ended earlier or it will be simpler to repair it, however it takes extra time,” he instructed reporters within the run-up to Sunday’s match. “I cannot quit. I wish to be right here. I wish to do it and, with the state of affairs that we’ve got, we’ve got to do it.
“In fact, I would like it, everybody needs it. I don’t wish to disappoint my individuals when it comes to the membership, the followers, the individuals who love this membership. I feel all of us in our job wish to do it effectively and please the individuals. That’s simple, not a query mark.
“The most important check is to return again once more, however we’ve got completed that earlier than.”
Guardiola received’t criticise in Metropolis disaster
Accidents have been a significant component in Metropolis’s decline, leaving them languishing in seventh place within the Premier League.
Most particularly, the gaping gap left by Ballon d’Or winner Rodri, as he recovers from a long-term knee injury. Nor have issues been helped by the erratic type in an inconsistent season by the often prolific Erling Haaland, who missed a penalty that might have sealed a Metropolis win towards Everton of their final match.
Haaland has scored simply as soon as in his final seven video games, however Guardiola refused accountable the Norway striker or any of his teammates.
“I don’t have it in my training to begin complaining, to level at individuals. It’s occurred, it’s life, it’s soccer, so let’s attempt it once more,” he stated.
“That’s why we’ve got had success, as a result of all the time it’s by no means sufficient, we are going to attempt it time and again and once more. That’s why we received a variety of titles.
“Each three days it was a recreation and win, win, win for a lot of, many months and years. Now, we’ve got to do the identical when outcomes should not good.”
Loads of motion ⬆️⬇️ pic.twitter.com/yumQgXPdfA
— Premier League (@premierleague) December 28, 2024
Metropolis nonetheless have doubts concerning the health of a number of gamers as they bid to get again to successful methods at struggling Leicester, who’ve received solely one among their final 11
“Typically you could have accidents,” Guardiola stated. “For what number of years we had been extremely constant however now, sure, we’re a bit bit down and the principle motive is having so many essential gamers injured.
“However I noticed the group spirit, how we skilled this week, how centered they’re, how they attempt to practise.”
Leicester Metropolis group information
Jordan Ayew, who’s suspended after the ahead was booked for the fifth time this season in the course of the defeat by Liverpool in Leicester’s final outing.
Captain Jamie Vardy needs to be match to return from a minor knock, however Wout Faes misses out once more in defence.
Man Metropolis group information
Lengthy-term absentee Rodri was joined on the sidelines by Ruben Dias, John Stones, Ederson, Kyle Walker, Jack Grealish and Matheus Nunes for the 1-1 draw with Everton.
Head-to-head
That is the 128th assembly between the golf equipment, of which Metropolis have received on 64 events, whereas Leicester have come away the spoils following 32 of the encounters.
Metropolis have received the final 5 league conferences, scoring 10 objectives within the final three of these, whereas Leicester may solely break up that run with a Neighborhood Defend victory following the 2020-21 title-winning season.
Leicester’s final league win got here in that marketing campaign with a 5-2 victory at Metropolis, and included a hat-trick from Vardy. The reverse recreation at King Energy Stadium resulted in a 2-0 scoreline that gave Metropolis the three factors and commenced their present dominant streak over the Foxes within the league.
The place do your facet at present sit?#FestiveFixtures pic.twitter.com/AT9MZPPnz2
— Premier League (@premierleague) December 28, 2024