Burkina Faso
Czech Republic
Lithuania
Montenegro
Nigeria
North Macedonia
United Arab Emirates

Nott'm Forestvs.Man City

sportsmole.co.uk, 26 April 2024, 14:11
Pep Guardiola is hoping that the excitement of Manchester City's Premier League title challenge will help his squad deal with fatigue in the final few weeks of the campaign.

The Citizens have played seven games across three different competitions in the space of just 22 days in the month of April and are preparing for another quick turnaround following their midweek win over Brighton & Hove Albion.

Man City cruised to a 4-0 away victory against the Seagulls on Thursday night, with Phil Foden scoring twice in between Kevin De Bruyne's headed opener and a second-half strike from Julian Alvarez.

Guardiola's men have climbed above Liverpool into second place and sit just one point behind Premier League leaders Arsenal, who have played a game more and face North London rivals Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday.

Winning an unprecedented fourth successive Premier League title remains in sight for Man City, who are now preparing for Sunday's trip to the City Ground to face relegation-threatened Nottingham Forest.

Guardiola addresses Man City fatigue

Guardiola believes that every team is 'tired' at this stage of the campaign, but he hopes that the excitement of fighting for another top-flight trophy can spur on his Man City squad in their final five league fixtures.

Speaking at a press conference on Thursday night, Guardiola said: "Of course, all the teams are tired, it's normal at the end of the season. But in the same time, it's so exciting, you know, fighting again. For the Premier League, it's a dream come true.

"I could not expect it, honestly. I know always you dream to be there. But what happened in the past? I had this season maybe we would not be able to do it."

Although City have just two full days to prepare for Sunday's trip to Forest, Guardiola believes his players have shown the desire to compete despite the physical demands they have faces amidst their hectic fixture schedule.

Last weekend, the Citizens beat Chelsea in the FA Cup semi-finals just three days after losing to Real Madrid on penalties in the Champions League quarter-finals.

"Of course, we have to [compete] and they will put on pressure, it's what they have to do," said Guardiola. "Chelsea was the real proof we play in difficult conditions.

"We were not ready to compete against them, but we did it. And we played good? No. We were stable? No. But we found a way. We found the way to win, and it reached the final.

"Sometimes when you play in 60-65 games this season, people say: 'you are not playing like the previous games'. With respect, it's impossible to play a highest level all the time, impossible.

"The important thing is when you are not in your highest level, be consistent and take the points and win games and normally - normally - it's happened to us at the end of the season and that is so important."

Man City gearing up for tricky trip to Forest

Man City were frustrated in a 1-1 draw at Nottingham Forest last season, and Guardiola is expecting another testing afternoon at the City Ground this weekend.

"I think I've been one or twice in that stadium and always the atmosphere is unbelievable," said the Catalan boss.

"Maybe an extra [factor] I would say for the fact that they are in a relegation battle. That's why how important the results, especially yesterday, Everton won, so it's not good for them.

"But what I'm concerned about is [Callum] Hudson-Odoi and all of the strikers that they have and we have to control the weapons that they have.

"We are used to playing with the environment and we're going to try what we have to do. Of course they're going to use this home ground home people to support that is normal."

Man City beat Forest 2-0 in the reverse fixture at the Etihad Stadium in September last year courtesy of two early goals from Foden and Erling Haaland, the latter is an injury doubt for Sunday's match at the City Ground after missing the previous two games with a minor muscle issue.

Show more

Top News

23 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk At least one of Moldova and Estonia will collect their first points of World Cup 2026 Qualifying when they lock horns at Stadionul Zimbru on Tuesday evening. 23 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Northern Ireland will be bidding to stretch their unbeaten run of form to six matches when they take on Sweden in an international friendly at Strawberry Arena in Solna on Tuesday night. 23 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Joint-top of the early Group J table, North Macedonia and Wales will lock horns in Skopje on Tuesday night, both aiming to make a perfect start to World Cup 2026 qualifying. 23 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Liverpool are reportedly locked in a two-way battle with Aston Villa to sign Villarreal left-back Sergi Cardona in the summer transfer window. 23 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Liverpool attacker Luis Diaz will supposedly 'not hesitate' to leave Anfield if one particular club makes a firm move for him in the summer transfer window. 23 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Both beaten on the opening matchday, Group J outsiders Liechtenstein and Kazakhstan will seek their first points in World Cup 2026 qualifying when they meet in Vaduz on Tuesday. 23 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United are hoping to offload under-performing goalkeeper Andre Onana to one of the financial powerhouses of Saudi Arabia this summer, according to a report. 23 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk All transfer business is done and dusted for this season, but that doesn't stop clubs from preparing ahead for next season. 23 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Georgia vs. Armenia (Sunday, 2.00pm) Battling for a place in League B of the UEFA Nations League, Georgia are set to host Armenia at the Boris Paichadze Stadium for the second leg of their playoff on Sunday. 23 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Liverpool are said to be locked in a battle for Ajax defender Jorrel Hato with the likes of Real Madrid, Arsenal and Chelsea. 22 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur have reportedly decided to target Stuttgart midfielder Enzo Millot in the summer transfer window. 22 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Peru can leapfrog Venezuela for eighth in CONMEBOL World Cup 2026 qualifying on Tuesday when they travel to Estadio Monumental de Maturin on matchday 14. 22 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Liverpool are reportedly reluctant to extend Diogo Jota's deal at Anfield and are said to be growing increasingly frustrated by the forward. 22 March 2025 talksport.com Cristiano Ronaldo has told Rasmus Hojlund he aims to celebrate in front of the Denmark striker in Sunday's crunch Nations League tie. 22 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Ipswich Town boss Kieran McKenna has received a boost as Wolverhampton Wanderers' Matheus Cunha's ban has been extended to four games, meaning he will miss his side's next two fixtures. 22 March 2025 talksport.com Everton Women star Rikke Madsen won't forget her team's 3-0 win over Crystal Palace any time soon. 22 March 2025 talksport.com Cristiano Ronaldo is the most lethal goalscorer in history - but Lionel Messi edges him in the never-ending 'greatest of all time' debate. 22 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Liverpool may have one hand firmly on the Premier League trophy, but more recent matches have shown that the Reds board cannot rest on their laurels during the summer transfer window. 22 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk After a disappointing start to World Cup qualifying, Romania will look to get their campaign up and running when they visit Serravalle to face minnows San Marino on Monday night. 22 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Two nations who made the perfect start to World Cup qualifying meet in Zenica on Monday night when Bosnia-Herzegovina host Cyprus. 22 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Tottenham Hotspur are reportedly among three Premier League teams to have taken an interest in signing Middlesbrough midfielder Hayden Hackney this summer. 22 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Liverpool have reportedly received a significant boost in their efforts to sign Rayan Cherki, whom Lyon have decided to sell in the summer transfer window. 22 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim has reportedly made a final decision on whether he plans to re-integrate Marcus Rashford into his squad this summer. 22 March 2025 talksport.com Manchester United have been told to seek wisdom from darts sensation Luke Littler over how to handle high-pressure situations. 22 March 2025 talksport.com Peter Crouch has scored his first goals for Liverpool in nearly 17 years and he made sure to celebrate accordingly. 22 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Liverpool's reported capacity to purchase a new striker in the summer transfer window is in excess of £100m due to their good financial health. 22 March 2025 talksport.com Newcastle United will have a special Carabao Cup trophy parade next weekend after ending 70 years of hurt. 22 March 2025 talksport.com Newcastle United will finally get their trophy-winning party in front the Toon Army. 22 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United are set to be active during this summer's transfer window, as the recently-appointed Ruben Amorim looks to bring in players capable of thriving in his 3-4-3 system. 22 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Liverpool defender Ibrahima Konate reportedly has no release clause in his current contract amidst interest from Real Madrid in his signature.