Pep Guardiola enforces unbelievable training move to tackle slump in form ahead of Everton clash
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has implemented a strict measure to combat his team’s poor form by requiring the squad to stay overnight at the club’s Etihad Campus training facility ahead of their Boxing Day clash against Everton.
The decision comes as City struggles with an uncharacteristic run, having lost nine of their last 12 matches—a stark contrast to Guardiola’s typically dominant tenure.
Guardiola hopes the players will embrace the change, which sees them leave their family homes on Christmas Day evening after spending the morning and afternoon with loved ones. The team will train at night and sleep in one of the facility’s 80 bedrooms, which are equipped with sleep-enhancing features like specialized wallpaper and high-end mattresses.
City was the first Premier League club to introduce overnight stays at their training ground in 2014, aiming to optimize player readiness for early kick-off home games. Guardiola emphasized the importance of preparation, saying, “We train today, we train tomorrow night, we will stay over here and we are going to play on Boxing Day.”
City’s Boxing Day opponent, Everton, is in solid form, having recently thrashed Wolves 4-0 and secured goalless draws against Arsenal and Chelsea. Meanwhile, City sits seventh in the Premier League table, four points off fourth-placed Nottingham Forest, and is bottom of the league’s form table for the last eight games with just four points.
This represents a dramatic decline for a team that previously lost only nine games across 106 matches before their current streak. Guardiola is determined to arrest the slide and return the team to winning ways, starting with the Everton fixture.
In an effort to lift spirits, City recently hosted a Christmas party where players and their partners were invited. Photos shared on social media showed stars like Kevin De Bruyne, Bernardo Silva, and Ilkay Gundogan enjoying the festivities with their families.
With Everton proving a formidable opponent in recent games, City’s Boxing Day showdown will be a crucial test of whether the overnight training camp can spark a turnaround in their form.
