Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has mandated that his squad stay overnight at the club's training facilities on Christmas Day, ahead of their Boxing Day match against Everton. 
This decision follows a series of disappointing results, including a 2-1 defeat to Aston Villa, which has left City struggling to regain their earlier form.
Guardiola emphasized the importance of maintaining a consistent pre-match routine, stating, "We train today (Tuesday), we train tomorrow (Wednesday) night, we will stay over here and we are going to play on Boxing Day." Players were permitted to spend Christmas morning with their families before convening for evening training at the Etihad Campus. Guardiola expressed confidence that the players understand the necessity of such arrangements, remarking, "Hopefully they want to be here, because it's our job."
The team, currently seventh in the Premier League and 12 points behind leaders Liverpool, views the upcoming match against 15th-placed Everton as a crucial opportunity to reverse their fortunes. Guardiola remains optimistic, stating, "We have another opportunity on Boxing Day. We have players coming back and at a certain time we will be better."
In an effort to boost team morale, Manchester City also invited players' partners to the club's Christmas party, a departure from the usual tradition of excluding them. This initiative aims to strengthen team cohesion during a challenging period.
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