Pep Guardiola compelled Manchester City players to stay overnight at the training ground on Christmas.

Manchester City players will spend Christmas night at the Etihad Campus training facilities as they aim to reverse their troubling decline in form. The team faces Everton at 12:30 pm on Boxing Day, following a poor run of just one win in their last 12 matches across all competitions.

Typically, the squad stays together the night before a home game, and Pep Guardiola is determined to stick to this routine despite the holiday. Players spent Christmas morning with their families before gathering at the training ground for an evening session and an overnight stay.

“We train today, we train tomorrow night, we’ll stay here, and we’ll play on Boxing Day,” Guardiola stated. When asked if the players would object to spending Christmas night at the training ground, he replied, “Hopefully they want to be here, because it’s our job.”

City’s struggles continued with a 2-1 defeat to Aston Villa on Saturday, leaving them in seventh place in the Premier League—a stark contrast to their dominant title-winning campaigns over the last four seasons. They now trail leaders Liverpool by 12 points and sit behind Nottingham Forest and Bournemouth.

Guardiola emphasized the importance of regaining momentum, with Champions League qualification at stake and the shadow of 115 financial charges looming over the club. “This situation is new for all of us. It’s about everyone. The players are working harder than ever. It’s not about effort; it’s about many little or big details that aren’t clicking for us,” he explained.

Looking ahead to Boxing Day, he added, “We have another opportunity. Players are returning, and in time, we’ll

improve.”