Pep Guardiola has warned his Manchester City stars there is no margin for error as his side prepares to kick off 2023 with a “terrible” month.
Leaders Arsenal opened an eight-point gap over Guardiola’s defending champions when they came from behind to beat West Ham on Boxing Day.
And Newcastle even leap-frogged City, who do have games in hand over the two rivals above them.
But Spurs, who are just two points behind Guardiola’s men, face City twice in a five-week period that opens the new year – a spell of potentially eight January fixtures which also features a Manchester derby and two meetings with Chelsea in the space of three days, one in the FA Cup.
City’s winter run
(Premier League in bold)
- Wed 28 Dec, Leeds (a)
- Sat 31 Dec, Everton (h)
- Thurs 5 Jan, Chelsea (a)
- Sun 8 Jan, Chelsea (h, FA Cup)
- Tues 10 Jan, Southampton (a, EFL Cup)
- Sat 14 Jan, Man Utd (a)
- Thurs 19 Jan, Spurs (h)
- Sun 22 Jan, Wolves (h)
- Sat 28 Jan, FA Cup fourth round
- Sun 5 Feb, Spurs (a)
First, City must travel to Leeds on Wednesday, the hometown club of star striker Erling Haaland and they visit Elland Road with their ears ringing with a warning from their manager.
“We talked with the players and said, ‘Guys, it’s back to the business,’” said Guardiola.
“It’s the best proof to know how we are, how we can do it because we have Leeds United, then it is non-stop.
“Our schedule in January is terrible, in terms of the amount of games and the quality of the opponent.
“Leeds is one of the toughest games we could have had. I would have preferred another opponent than Leeds after the World Cup.
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“After a defeat against Brentford, and how strong Arsenal, and opponents behind us, are, we have to be alert and careful.
“Because if the distance to the top is bigger, it will be so difficult to catch them.”
After losing their last league game – the shock home loss to Brentford in mid-November – Guardiola will be hopeful that Haaland is back to full fitness after being limited by minor issues during the break.
Haaland has already been in touch with Leeds boss Jesse Marsch, his former manager at Red Bull Salzburg, with the American a firm fan of the striker.
“I think Erling will be ready,” said Guardiola. “Day by day, he is getting better. He can train so he will get his condition.
“They want to win, we want to win; it will not be a friendly game. Hopefully, Erling will not be contaminated by the nice words from the opponent.”
City will still be without resting World Cup winner Julian Alvarez, who started more games at the World Cup than he has in the Premier League this season.
And Guardiola is looking forward to dealing with the “problem” of finding minutes for the 22-year-old Argentinian striker.
“It is not difficult to manage, it is a privilege,” he said. “Julian doesn’t need to play at a World Cup for us to know exactly how he is as a player.
“Of course, for him, it is unbelievable to be world champion at his age and, thanks to Argentina, he will come back a better player and that is magnificent for us.”
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