Pep Guardiola says the Boxing Day trip to Leicester will provide his squad with a test of character.

City slipped four points behind leaders Liverpool after Saturday’s 3-2 defeat at home to Crystal Palace.

It was a disappointing result, but Guardiola says his side need to show their mettle and bounce back with victory at the King Power Stadium.

“We have to see how we are, our character,” he said. “We saw many times we react well and we are going to try again.

“Leicester, we played against them a few days ago and always it is tough to win there, and Southampton again and we will see what happens.

“I spoke with them. [I told them to] recover, train, recovery and prepare for the game against Leicester.”

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During our 100-point Premier League campaign, City bounced back swiftly from any setbacks, something Guardiola repeatedly cited as a key element of our record-breaking success. 

And he says he wants to see more of the same against Claude Puel’s side and four days later at Southampton in order to keep the pressure on Liverpool at the top of the table. 

“We have to go to Leicester and win,” he said.

“Last season, when it happened that we dropped points, immediately we won again. That’s what we have to do.

“We have two games away before the new year and we have to do that.

“When you win, always I insist you focus on the next one and now is the same.

“We lose again, it happens, focus on the next one.”