Manchester City are “soft” according to Manager Pep Guardiola, who made these remarks after his side achieved a furious comeback victory over Crystal Palace this past weekend. Down 2-0, City came back to win 4-2, fueled by a hat trick from Erling Haaland. It is the first of many Premier League hat tricks to come for the Norwegian Meat Shield.
Guardiola praised Haaland while also pointing out what’s lacking elsewhere in the rest of the team.
Manchester City vs Nottingham Forest FYIs
Kick off: 7:45pm, Wednesday August 31, City of Manchester Stadium
City Starting XI Prediction: go here
After Extra Time Podcast: Spotify Apple
PL Position: Man City 2nd, 10 pts Nottingham Forest 14th, 4pts
Form Guide: Man City WDWW Nottingham Forest LDWL
Google Result Probability: Man City 91% Nottingham Forest 3% Draw 6%
“We have to improve,” Guardiola said. “We are soft in some departments. There are parts we need to be in the competition more. The Premier League doesn’t wait. When you are waiting a while it is difficult.”
“It is important for him to get goals,” Guardiola said.
“He has the sense to score goals. The third one, to have the quality to be strong then put the ball in the net. The space depends on the movement of the opponents. You have to be patient and have more runners, it gives him more space.”
Now it’s a very quick turnaround to the next fixture. City host Nottingham Forest on Wednesday night. Let’s look at the injury situation.
Man City Team News
Defender Nathan Ake and winger Jack Grealish are now back to full fitness, but summer signing Kalvin Phillips and Luke Mbete are still working their way back. Aymeric Laporte, who still hasn’t featured this season, probably won’t until October. The stellar defender is still rehabbing a knee injury.
Paul M. Banks is the owner/manager of The Bank (TheSportsBank.Net) and author of “Transatlantic Passage: How the English Premier League Redefined Soccer in America,” as well as “No, I Can’t Get You Free Tickets: Lessons Learned From a Life in the Sports Media Industry.”
He has regularly appeared in WGN, Sports Illustrated and the Chicago Tribune, and he co-hosts the After Extra Time podcast, part of Edge of the Crowd Network. Follow him and the website on Twitter and Instagram.