This coming Sunday, Leicester faces Manchester City in a high-stakes encounter between the two teams. Whereas the Foxes are putting up a desperate fight to get out of relegation, the Citizens are fighting a crisis of confidence that has even their top-four ambitions under threat.
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Pressure will certainly be on Manchester City
If there is one word to describe Manchester City's current state, then it would be crisis. A team known for their dominance is going through a streak of just one win in their last 13 matches across all competitions. For a club that has collected trophy after trophy under Pep Guardiola, sitting seventh in the Premier League table feels almost surreal.
Guardiola, however, has no plans to back down. “I won’t give up,” he declared emphatically ahead of his 500th game in charge of City. The Spanish coach acknowledged the team’s recent shortcomings but refused to blame injuries for their struggles: “This is soccer. We’ll try again and again.”
But even without Rodri, who has upset the balance of midfield, Guardiola knows deeper lies the problem. The consistency that characterised their golden years is gone. Now, the challenge is clear: beat Leicester, rebuild confidence in a squad that seems adrift.
Leicester: survival and pride on the line
On the other side, Leicester is waging its own battle. Sitting in the relegation zone with just 14 points, the Foxes are scrambling to find a way out. Interim captain Conor Coady’s statement reflects the grit of a team that, despite its struggles, still believes in bouncing back: “We know Man City is a world-class team, but we’ll prepare to exploit their weaknesses.”
With the crowd's energy in support, Leicester hopes this home crowd energy at King Power Stadium would translate to pitch energy. Every point is valuable, and the last game of 2024 brings with it not only the hope to close the year on an upbeat note but also the opportunity to shake a frail giant.
Clash of opposites
Historically, City have dominated this matchup, winning 11 of their last 13 matches against Leicester, including four straight away wins without conceding a goal. These stats paint the Citizens as favorites, but current form makes the situation far from predictable.
For Leicester, it is about a solid defense and quick counters—perhaps just the ingredients that will find City lacking their rhythm in midfield. For City, recapturing their characteristic ball control and inventiveness is the way forward if they want to clear this hurdle.
Guardiola: legacy and challenges
At the helm of 500 games in charge of City, Guardiola is still the most successful boss in their history with 18 major titles, six of them being the Premier League crowns. Still, the Spaniard faces the biggest test. Not because he needs to win against Leicester but to show how he can change his team around when the chips are down.
Every three days, it was game after game, win after win," Guardiola recalled. The reminiscing is strong, but with a promise: he is determined to restore those glory days. The game against Leicester could be the start of that revival-or another low point in a challenging season.