WHO: Leicester City vs Manchester City
What: English Premier League
Where: King Power Stadium, Leicester, United Kingdom
When: 12:30pm (12:30 GMT) Sunday
Follow Al Jazeera's available audio and video content and commentary.
Pep Guardiola insists he will not leave struggling Manchester City as he tries to stop the relegation zone.
The Spaniard, whose side visited Leicester City on Sunday, recently signed a two-year contract extension but City's poor performance has raised questions about his future. The dangerous rush of nine losses in 13 gamesafter just one win in this difficult period, it led to speculation that the City boss could decide to quit if he cannot find a solution to his squad's problems.
Having guided City to six Premier League titles in the past seven seasons, however, Guardiola is adamant he is still hungry for change.
“I will try, I will continue. “Sometimes you think that the problem will be solved already or it will be easy to fix, but it takes more time,” he told reporters in preparation for the game on Sunday. “I didn't give up.” I want to be here. I want to do it and, with the way we are, we have to.
“Of course, I want it, everyone wants it. I don't want to disappoint my people in terms of the team, the fans, the people who love the team. I think that we all want to do it well and make people happy. That is undeniable, not a question.
“The biggest challenge is going back, but we've done it before.”
Guardiola will not be blamed for City's problems
Injuries have caused City to slide down the pecking order, keeping them in seventh place in the Premier League.
In particular, the hole left by Ballon d'Or winner Rodri, like him he recovers from a long-term knee injury. And things weren't helped by the erratic form in an inconsistent season from the often prolific Erling Haaland, who missed a penalty that would have sealed victory for City 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.
“I don't have it in my studies to start complaining, pointing at people. It's happened, it's life, football, so let's try again,” he said.
“That's why we've done well, because it's not always enough, we'll try again and again. That's why we won so many titles.
“Every three days was a game and win, win, win for many months and years. Now, we have to do the same if the results are not good.”
Lots of walking ⬆️⬇️ pic.twitter.com/yumQgXPdfA
– Premier League (@premierleague) December 28, 2024
City still have doubts over the fitness of a number of players as they look to bounce back from struggling Leicester, who have won just one of their last 11 games.
“Sometimes you get injured,” Guardiola said. “For how many years we have been consistent but now, yes, we have lost a bit and the main reason is injuries to many players.
“But I saw the spirit of the team, the way we trained this week, how hard they worked, how they tried to do it.”
Leicester City team news
Jordan Ayew, who is suspended after the striker was booked for the fifth time this season in Liverpool's last-gasp defeat at Leicester.
Captain Jamie Vardy should be fit to return from a minor knock, but Wout Faes has also missed out on safety.
Man City team news
The sidelined Rodri was joined by Ruben Dias, John Stones, Ederson, Kyle Walker, Jack Grealish and Matheus Nunes in the 1-1 draw with Everton.
Head to head
This is the 128th meeting between the clubs, with City winning 64 times, while Leicester have won 32 games.
City have won their last five league meetings, scoring 10 goals in the last three, while Leicester could have missed out on the Community Shield after a successful 2020-21 campaign.
Leicester's last league win came in the competition with a 5-2 win at City, and included a hat-trick from Vardy. The return leg at the King Power Stadium produced a 2-0 scoreline which gave City three points and moved clear of the Foxes in the league.
Where is your side?# Festive Updates pic.twitter.com/AT9MZPPnz2
– Premier League (@premierleague) December 28, 2024