Guardiola remains confident: Manchester City will bounce back from massive setbacks

City will be looking to reignite their form on Sunday against Leicester, live on Sky Sports, following yet another disappointing result for the struggling champions against Everton on Boxing Day.

They at least avoided the indignity of a 10th defeat in 13 games in all competitions, but the surrendered two points left them 14 behind Premier League leaders Liverpool, who also have a game in hand.

With just one win since October, it has been a dramatic fall from grace for Guardiola's previously all-conquering side

Guardiola said: "I've been, since I arrived in my career as a football player, as a manager, I think everyone of us, in our job, want to please the people, want to do good our job. That is undeniable. That is not a question mark, I would say.

"So, it's easy to understand. The greatest test when things are going badly. The greatest test that I've done.

"We will come back and that's what already happened. But that makes me remember how good was the past. That's the truth.

"I maybe realise now what we have done. Because sometimes you have injuries and how many years we were so incredibly, incredibly consistent, you know?

"And the main, main reason is having seven, eight important injured players. And after every three days, it's more difficult.

"But I see the team, the spirit, how yesterday's [Wednesday's] training, how focused they are in all we try to practice, how, you know, to try to do it."

Manuel Akanji also remains confident City will turn the corner ahead of the trip to relegation-threatened Leicester.

The Switzerland international said: "We need to keep on working and the next opportunity is in a few days. There's nothing else we can do at the moment. We're trying everything.

"We've had lots of injuries, so it's not easy at the moment, but even now we will find a way and come out of this and luck will come again on our side."

Jones Knows prediction: No respite for Pep

' betting expert Lewis Jones:

How bad must Leicester be if Manchester City are going off 1/3 with Sky Bet for the 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 concede more is FC Heidenheim 1846 (28).

It is astonishing.

Monterosa