On Wednesday night, Pep Guardiola saw his Manchester City side pick up three points in a Premier League game for the first time since October.
Specifically, City beat Nottingham Forest 3-0 at the Etihad Stadium thanks to goals from Bernardo Silva, Kevin De Bruyne and Jeremy Doku.
Throughout the game, the home side registered 67% possession and racked up 17 shots at goal in total.
Once the match ended, a pundit and former City player heaped praise on one of the current figures in Guardiola’s side and what he delivered on the pitch against Forest following a tactical tweak from the Catalan.
Pep Guardiola, manager of Manchester City looks on during the Premier League match between Manchester City FC and Nottingham Forest FC at Etihad St...
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Nicky Weaver hails Jack Grealish after midfield performance against Forest
Speaking to the club’s in-house media (via the official Man City website), Nicky Weaver was full of praise for what he saw from Jack Grealish against Forest, saying this about the Englishman’s efforts in midfield.
He said: “He saw a lot of the ball which is something I think he will have relished – he had to go looking for the ball in the earlier part of the game but once he got onto those little pockets on the half turn, he was fantastic.
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“He’s a terrific footballer in whatever role he plays in and was really influential, draws fouls like nobody else in the Premier League and I’m sure he enjoyed that central position and is definitely another option for Pep.
“He’s a strong boy, rarely gives the ball away cheaply and showed a different part of his game against Forest. I’m sure he enjoyed his evening, and I could see the fans did, too.”
Grealish passed Guardiola’s midfield test against Forest
After Sunday’s defeat to Liverpool, Guardiola hinted at using Grealish in a midfield position.
This then led to many City fans buzzing about Grealish playing in midfield and the prospect of seeing him in that role.
During the match against Forest, other City fans highlighted how impressed they were with Grealish and what he was doing for the team.
Once the game on Wednesday night had ended, Guardiola assessed Grealish’s midfield performance, saying this about what he saw from the England international.
He said: “Played really good, played in the middle, was involved in many things and hopefully, if I decide to play him in that position, can be involved in the final third, being decisive in the passes and the goals and the assists.”
“But he gave us what we need, our football was always built in the midfield, the quality that makes our tempo and the glimpses of speed that we make outside and in the way you have to play and after the glimpses of speed from outside, but the control of the game, Jack [Grealish] gives us that pace, when to accelerate, how to add more control, he played brilliantly, I’m so happy for him.”
Taking all of that on board, it’s clear that Weaver was right to say that the City fans enjoyed seeing Grealish in a midfield role rather than out on the wing again.
Moving forward, keeping the 29-year-old in a midfield role is certainly something that should be in Guardiola’s mind as City aim to get back into a more normal run of form in terms of winning games.
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