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 won’t stroll out on troubled Manchester Metropolis as he strives to cease the champions’ beautiful decline.
The Spaniard, whose aspect go to Leicester Metropolis on Sunday, solely lately 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 solutions the Metropolis boss may resolve to give up if he can not 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 scenario round.
“I’ll attempt, I’ll hold going. Generally you suppose the dangerous run will likely be ended earlier or it might be simpler to repair it, however it takes extra time,” he informed 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 scenario that now we have, now we have to do it.
“In fact, I would like it, everybody desires it. I don’t wish to disappoint my folks when it comes to 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 check is to return again once more, however now we have achieved that earlier than.”
Guardiola gained’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 damage. Nor have issues been helped by the erratic kind in an inconsistent season by the normally prolific Erling Haaland, who missed a penalty that would 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 schooling to begin complaining, to level at folks. It’s occurred, it’s life, it’s soccer, so let’s attempt it once more,” he stated.
“That’s why now we have had success, as a result of all the time it’s by no means sufficient, we’ll attempt it time and again and once more. That’s why we gained lots of titles.
“Each three days it was a recreation and win, win, win for a lot of, many months and years. Now, now we have to do the identical when outcomes are usually 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 gained solely one among 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 a bit of bit down and the primary motive is having so many essential gamers injured.
“However I noticed the crew spirit, how we educated 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 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 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 gained on 64 events, whereas Leicester have come away the spoils following 32 of the encounters.
Metropolis have gained the final 5 league conferences, scoring 10 targets within the final three of these, whereas Leicester may solely break up that run with a Group Protect 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 started their present dominant streak over the Foxes within the league.
The place do your aspect at present sit?#FestiveFixtures pic.twitter.com/AT9MZPPnz2
— Premier League (@premierleague) December 28, 2024