Pep Guardiola confidently declared “Manchester City will be back” after a run of one win in 13 matches sent their season into turmoil.
City will be hoping to rediscover his spark on Sunday against Leicester, live on Sky Sports, after another frustrating result for the ailing champions at home to Everton on Boxing Day.
They avoided at least a 10th defeat in 13 games in all competitions but conceded two points to leave them 14 behind Premier League leaders Liverpool, who also have a game in hand.
With just one win since October, it was a dramatic slump for Guardiola's previously all-conquering side
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FREE TO WATCH: Highlights from Manchester City's draw with Everton in the Premier League.
Guardiola said: “I, since I arrived in my career as a football player, as a manager, I think that each of us, in our work, wants to please people, we want to do our job well. It is undeniable. It is not a question mark, I would say.
“So it's easy to understand. The biggest test is when things go badly. The biggest test I've done.
“We will return and that has already happened. But it makes me remember how good the past was. That's true.
Sunday, December 29, 2:00 p.m
Start at 14:30
“Maybe now I understand what we did. Because sometimes you have injuries and how many years have we been so incredibly, incredibly consistent, you know?
“And the main, main reason is that we have seven, eight important injured players. And after every three days it gets harder.
“But I see the team, the spirit, how focused yesterday's (Wednesday) practice is, how focused they are on everything we're trying to practice, how to, you know, try to do it.”
Leicester City – Manchester City, live on Sky Sports
Manuel Akanji too remains safe City will turn the corner ahead of a trip to relegation-threatened Leicester.
The Swiss international said: “We have to keep working and the next opportunity is in a few days. There is nothing else we can do at the moment. We are trying everything.
“We've had a lot of injuries, so right now it's not easy, but even now we'll find a way to get out of this and luck will be on our side again.”
Jones Knows Prediction: No respite for Pep
Sky Sports betting expert Lewis Jones:
How bad must Leicester be if Manchester City are 1/3 with Sky Bet to win despite winning just once in their last 13 games?
Also, since the start of November, Guardiola's men have conceded 26 goals in all competitions – in that time, the only side from Europe's big five leagues to have conceded more is FC Heidenheim 1846 (28).
That's astonishing.
However, players are still happy to back them to win football matches at big odds – it seems.
I can leave them alone even if Leicester had the most shots, shots on goal and conceded the most goals since December 3rd, Ruud van Nistelrooy's first game in charge.
He made little impact – in fact, it might be easier for them to score.
From a betting point of view, however, you simply have to keep betting against this City defense to keep a clean sheet, with Leicester scoring in all but one of their 10 home games this season. Both teams scoring over 2.5 goals should be 4/5 with Sky Bet.