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 stay textual content and picture build-up and commentary stream.
Pep Guardiola insists he is not going to stroll out on troubled Manchester Metropolis as he strives to cease the champions’ beautiful decline.
The Spaniard, whose facet go to Leicester Metropolis on Sunday, solely not too long ago signed a two-year contract extension however Metropolis’s dismal kind has raised questions on his future. A nightmare run of 9 defeats in 13 video games, with only one win in that woeful spell, triggered recommendations the Metropolis boss may resolve to stop if he can’t discover a solution to his crew’s issues.
Having led Metropolis to 6 Premier League titles up to now seven seasons, nevertheless, Guardiola is adamant he nonetheless has the starvation to show the state of affairs round.
“I’ll strive, I’ll preserve going. Generally you assume the dangerous run will probably be ended earlier or it will be simpler to repair it, however it takes extra time,” he advised reporters within the run-up to Sunday’s match. “I can’t surrender. 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 folks by way of the membership, the followers, the individuals who love this membership. I believe all of us in our job wish to do it effectively and please the folks. That’s plain, not a query mark.
“The largest take a look at is to come back again once more, however we’ve got finished that earlier than.”
Guardiola received’t criticise in Metropolis disaster
Accidents have been a significant factor 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 harm. Nor have issues been helped by the erratic kind in an inconsistent season by the normally 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 in charge the Norway striker or any of his teammates.
“I don’t have it in my schooling to begin complaining, to level at folks. It’s occurred, it’s life, it’s soccer, so let’s strive it once more,” he stated.
“That’s why we’ve got had success, as a result of at all times it’s by no means sufficient, we are going to strive it many times and once more. That’s why we received lots of titles.
“Each three days it was a sport and win, win, win for a lot of, many months and years. Now, we’ve got to do the identical when outcomes aren’t good.”
Loads of motion ⬆️⬇️ pic.twitter.com/yumQgXPdfA
— Premier League (@premierleague) December 28, 2024
Metropolis nonetheless have doubts in regards to the health of a number of gamers as they bid to get again to successful methods at struggling Leicester, who’ve received solely considered one of their final 11
“Generally you will have accidents,” Guardiola stated. “For what number of years we have been extremely constant however now, sure, we’re somewhat bit down and the principle cause is having so many essential gamers injured.
“However I noticed the crew spirit, how we skilled this week, how centered they’re, how they attempt to practise.”
Leicester Metropolis crew information
Jordan Ayew, who’s suspended after the ahead was booked for the fifth time this season throughout 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 crew 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 targets 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 sport 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 the moment sit?#FestiveFixtures pic.twitter.com/AT9MZPPnz2
— Premier League (@premierleague) December 28, 2024