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WHO: Leicester City vs Manchester City
What: English Premier League
where: King Power Stadium, Leicester, United Kingdom
When: 12:30 p.m. (12:30 GMT) on Sunday
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Pep Guardiola insists he will not leave troubled Manchester City as he bids to halt the champions' stunning slump.
The Spaniard, whose country visits Leicester City on Sunday, most recently signed a two-year contract extension but City's dismal form has raised questions about his future. Nightmare run from nine defeats in 13 gameswith just one win in that torrid spell, it has sparked speculation that the City boss could decide to leave if he can't find an answer to his squad's woes.
However, after guiding City to six Premier League titles in the past seven seasons, Guardiola is adamant he still has the hunger to turn things around.
“I will try, I will continue. “Sometimes you think a bad streak will end sooner or it will be easier to fix it, but it takes longer,” he told reporters ahead of Sunday's game. “I will not give up. I want to be here I want to do it and with the situation we have we have to do it.
“Of course I want it, everyone wants it. I don't want to let my people down in terms of the club, the fans, the people who love this club. I think all of us in our work want to do it well and please people. This is undeniable, not a question mark.
“The biggest test is to come back again, but we've done this before.”
Guardiola will not criticize in the City crisis
Injuries have been a major factor in City's decline, leaving them languishing in seventh place in the Premier League.
Most notably the gaping hole left by Ballon d'Or winner Rhodri as he is recovering from a lingering knee injury. Matters were also not helped by the erratic form in an inconsistent season from the usually productive Erling Haaland, who missed a penalty that could have sealed City's victory against Everton in their last game.
Haaland has scored just once in his last seven games, but Guardiola refused to blame the Norwegian striker or any of his team-mates.
“It's not in my education to start complaining, pointing at people. It happened, that's life, that's football, so let's try again,” he said.
“That's why we've been successful because it's always never enough, we'll try again and again and again.” That's why we won many titles.
“Every three days it was a game and win, win, win for many, many months and years. Now we have to do the same when the results are not good.”
Lots of movement ⬆️⬇️ pic.twitter.com/yumQgXPdfA
— Premier League (@premierleague) December 28, 2024
City still have doubts over the fitness of several players as they try to get back to winning ways at struggling Leicester, who have won just one of their last 11
“Sometimes you have injuries,” Guardiola said. “For a few years we were incredibly consistent, but now, yes, we are a bit down and the main reason is that we have so many important players injured.
“But I saw the team spirit, how we trained this week, how focused they are, how they try to train.”
Leicester City team news
Jordan Ayew, who is suspended after the striker was booked for the fifth time this season during the defeat by Liverpool in Leicester's last away game.
Captain Jamie Vardy should be ready to return after a slight knock, but Watt Face misses out in defense again.
Man City squad news
The long-term absentee Rodri was joined by Ruben Diaz, John Stones, Ederson, Kyle Walker, Jack Grealish and Mateus Nunes for the 1-1 draw with Everton.
Head to head
This is the 128th meeting between the clubs, of which City have won 64 times, while Leicester have taken the spoils after 32 of the meetings.
City have won their last five league matches, scoring 10 goals in the last three of them, while Leicester only managed to end that run with a Community Shield win after their title-winning 2020-21 season.
Leicester's last league win came this campaign with a 5-2 win against City and included a hat-trick from Vardy. The reverse fixture at the King Power Stadium resulted in a 2-0 result that gave City the three points and began their current dominant run over the Foxes in the league.
Where does your country sit right now?#FestiveFixtures pic.twitter.com/AT9MZPPnz2
— Premier League (@premierleague) December 28, 2024
