Manchester City goalscorer Josko Gvardiol admits he was ‘lost’ when marauding forward at Nottingham Forest, and did not know what manager Pep Guardiola wanted from him until some half time clarity.
Gvardiol scored his third goal in five games for City and was seen advancing forward in the first half – at one point he raced into the box but couldn’t connect with a header and then left his full-back area exposed for a Forest attack that forced a save from Ederson.
Guardiola looked furious with Gvardiol at the time, but it seems the defender was also confused over what his manager was asking from him during three in-game tactical switches. We round up the reaction from the City Ground.
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Gvardiol’s confusion
“At the beginning it was one idea then the manager changed it after half an hour, then again at half time he made a change back to do the same as at the beginning of the game,” Gvardiol told Sky Sports after the game.
“To be fair I was a bit lost because I did not know exactly what he wanted from me but he was much clearer after at half time.”
Guardiola was delighted after Gvardiol’s goal – but more with set piece coach Carlos Vicens, who got a nod of thanks from the boss amid the celebrations.
Gvardiol has played well recently, opening his City account with a fine strike at Real Madrid – with two more goals following in his next four outings. “I am more than happy to score one more goal in this difficult game to help the team,” he added. “I am more happy about getting the three points, and finally we have six days to rest and recover well and prepare for the next one.”
Why Doku came off
With Ederson’s half-time substitution enforced, Guardiola confirmed that Jeremy Doku’s replacement was not injury-related. “We wanted more passes, we cannot survive if we don’t have the ball, and Kova helped us with that,” he explained.
“After with Kova and Bernardo and the others in there, it was much better.” After Jack Grealish also went off, City were narrower with Rodri and Kovacic in the middle, De Bruyne and Alvarez ahead of them, and Erling Haaland back in attack.
“It is important that he is back and doing what he does,” said Guardiola to Match of the Day. “Kevin found him and it was a really good finish. He was not ready for 90 minutes but it was good for him to be back.”
Another year of the Champions League
Guardiola always keeps a close eye on when City have confirmed a top four finish, but in the preparations for the Forest game, it appeared to escape him that Tottenham’s defeat to Arsenal secured another year of Champions League football next season. Even if Spurs had won, City’s three points at Forest did the job anyway.
Informed of the achievement, Guardiola replied: “Wow, I’m going to celebrate tomorrow. My CEO and owner will be so happy. Next season in the Champions League, a big achievement. Qualification for the Champions League is the most important target, we did it, four games left. Big congrats to the club and players.”
Dry pitch issues
Gvardiol and Haaland both complained post-match of the dry nature of the City Ground pitch, and a pre-match conversation between Kyle Walker and the officials also seemed to centre over the lack of watering of the turf.
But Guardiola was philosophical about it, saying: “In certain moments we suffered. We were lucky today the pitch was so dry, because the chances they missed that was the reason why. We were lucky today that the pitch was in these conditions.”
In his press conference, Guardiola added: “There is no problem. It was dry for the weather for the sun and that help us. When we play at home we decide the way we want to play, when we play away we adapt. I’m saying that we were lucky for the position of the chances they had. They could not contact with the goal for the question for the pitch.”
