CITY FACING TEST OF CHARACTER

MANCHESTER CITY face the sternest test of their title credentials over the next nine days, when Pep Guardiola will know if his champions have the same mentality as last year. Guardiola takes his side to Leicester City today and admits they are desperate for a win after the shock 3-2 home defeat by Crystal Palace. It left City trailing Liverpool by four points, with a trip to rejuvenated Southampton also beckoning before their huge meeting at the Etihad Stadium on January 3. Guardiola said: ‘We’re going to Leicester needing to win. Last season we dropped points and immediately won again. That’s what we have to do. We have two games away before New Year and we have to do that. When we win I insist they are calm and now (after a defeat) it is the same. We lose a game, it happens ... focus on the next one. ‘I saw them after the Palace game and they’re upset, sad — that’s normal. I spoke with them and said, “Heads up, guys”. ‘We have to see how our character is. We have shown many times that we react well and we’re going to try again.’