Manchester City call-off annual staff Christmas party due to on-field matters | OneFootball

Premier League champions Manchester City have called off their annual Christmas party for staff this year due to their upcoming involvements at the Club World Cup.

Pep Guardiola and his Treble-winning squad jet off to Saudi Arabia following their Premier League clash against Crystal Palace next weekend, hoping to claim the world-renowned title for the first time in the club’s history.

Manchester City booked their place in the tournament this December through their maiden UEFA Champions League success, having defeated Inter 1-0 in a showpiece Istanbul final last June with midfield star Rodri scoring the winning goal.

However, the ultimate success and possibility of yet more silverware later this month has come at a cost for Manchester City’s employees, with a new report revealing that there will be no Christmas party organised for staff this year.

That is according to MailSport’s Mike Keegan this week, who reveals that City’s involvement at the FIFA Club World Cup in Saudi Arabia means there will be no Christmas party organised for staff – a tradition often held each year featuring surprise appearances from first-team players.

Despite there being no official Club Christmas party, the report reveals that departments within Manchester City have instead been given £50 per head for food and drink to arrange their own celebrations instead.

The 2023 FIFA Club World Cup gets underway on Tuesday 12 December, with Al-Ittihad taking on Auckland City in the first round of the competition, while Manchester City join Fluminense in entering the tournament from the semi-final stage.

City will take on either Urawa Red Diamonds or Club Leon in the final four of the tournament, with a guaranteed second game pencilled in with a defeat entering them into a third-place play-off match, whilst a victory would send them into the final.

Manchester City have already claimed one trophy this season, having defeat Europa League experts Sevilla in the UEFA Super Cup back in August in Athens, making it four trophies won in the 2023 calendar year.