Regular service resumed at the Etihad Stadium as Manchester City arrested their recent slump by thumping Nottingham Forest 3-0.
Rejuvenated Kevin De Bruyne – left out of the starting XI for the defeat to Liverpool last weekend – was the instigator of everything good about City’s free-flowing attacking play, crafting the first goal and scoring the second.
“He played 75 fantastic minutes, I’m so happy he’s back,” reflected Pep Guardiola of De Bruyne, who has been blighted by injuries and only managed five starts this season.
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Sky Sports News’ Ben Ransom reflects on Manchester City’s 3-0 victory over Nottingham Forest which puts City back in the Premier League top four
The hosts worked the opener from wide, as under-fire Ilkay Gundogan floated into space before dinking a cross towards the head of the Belgian, and he worked the ball seamlessly to Bernardo Silva for a simple tap-in.
If fired-up City were devoid of confidence, on a baron run of four straight league defeats, it did not show. Chris Wood missed a one-vs-one with Stefan Ortega at one end, before Jeremy Doku punished at the other, ghosting into the box to tee up De Bruyne as he swept beyond Matz Sels.
Forest were facing a backlash of sorts, and the pattern continued after the break.
Jeremy Doku scored his first goal since early October
Erling Haaland powered upfield before playing a perfectly weighted pass into the path of Doku to score his first goal since early October and wrap up three crucial points, with City reducing the gap on Premier League leaders Liverpool – who drew 3-3 at Newcastle – to nine.
“We needed this, the club, the players. We needed to win,” Guardiola concluded.
Is there life in this title race after all?
Analysis: De Bruyne masterclass pulls City out of rut
Sky Sports’ William Bitibiri:
De Bruyne’s long-awaited return to the Manchester City starting XI did not disappoint. Guardiola lauded the midfielder’s “presence” in midfield, when speaking to Amazon Prime after the Belgian masterminded his side’s first win in eight games.
It was more than the goal and assist in the first half that buoyed City, De Bruyne looked to be involved in everything the Premier League champions produced in possession. The 33-year-old said it himself when asked why his team-mates were looking to him for inspiration during the game. “It’s been a difficult spell,” he said.
Kevin De Bruyne celebrates after making it 2-0 to Manchester City
“Maybe they [his team-mates] look towards the older guys to bring a bit of calmness to the game. I was able to do that.”
The composure he added to his side’s display was evident as it even raised the performance of Jack Grealish, who playing in a different central role – in the absence of Phil Foden – where he was able to feed off De Bruyne’s creativity to make things happen.
His influence speaks for itself. City are now unbeaten in each of their last 31 Premier League games with De Bruyne in the starting line-up (W26 D5), and has been directly involved in 25 goals across those matches (nine goals, 16 assists).
City’s chief creator walked off the pitch to an embrace from his manager, who will be hoping his key man will continue to relieve the issues caused by a dark November.
Guardiola pleased to break losing cycle
Man City manager Pep Guardiola:
“The difference is we won. That is the difference. We needed this, the club, the players. Everyone needed to win, but it’s just one game. The problems [with injuries] continue. They prove what an incredible group of players we have, for many years. They play really well.
“There are still things we are missing, but in general the most important thing was to break this routine, finally we won. We will see how we process our victory.
“This was better than Liverpool and Bournemouth, but quite similar to other games we didn’t win. The difference today was that we won, that’s all.”
Nuno: No one doubted City’s quality
Nottingham Forest manager Nuno Espirito Santo:
“There are positives. Of course there are mistakes, but we tried, we challenged ourselves. We tried to press, not sit down, and we had chances.
“Internally, I think we come out proud of ourselves, because we tried and this will allow us to grow. They have quality all over the pitch, and it’s difficult to control these players. I don’t think anyone doubted the quality of City’s players.
“We knew we had a hard task, but honestly, we went for it. We lose, ok, but that can happen in football. But we challenged ourselves.”
