Manchester City slipped to a 1-0 defeat to Nottingham Forest on Saturday – and one star has come in for criticism following the final result.
Pep Guardiola’s side fell short at the City Ground, with Forest taking a big step towards Champions League qualification.
Chelsea’s win over Leicester City today means City have now dropped out of the top four again.
It was a frustrating result against Forest, who were always going to be tough to beat, as they have shown so often this season.
City just weren’t at it in the final third again, with City fans feeling Erling Haaland was anonymous against Nottingham Forest.
City fans also criticised Bernardo Silva against Nottingham Forest for another poor performance, and it was just another one of those frustrating afternoons.
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Ederson has come in for criticism as well for the way he conceded the goal to Callum Hudson-Odoi.
But former Nottingham Forest goalkeeper Mark Crossley believes a lot of the fault was with Josko Gvardiol.
Mark Crossley criticises ‘lethargic’ Josko Gvardiol vs Nottingham Forest goal vs Man City
Photo by MI News/NurPhoto via Getty Images
Photo by MI News/NurPhoto via Getty Images
A lot of people have pointed the finger at Ederson for getting beat at his near post.
The Brazilian may well have done better, and will likely not want to see it back.
But former Nottingham Forest goalkeeper Mark Crossley – who made 348 appearances for the Reds – had some sympathy for City’s number one.
In his eyes, Hudson-Odoi should not have been allowed to come into the box as far as he did, and therefore Josko Gvardiol was more at fault.
Former City defender Kit Symons said on City’s Matchday Live show: “Gvardiol, get out there as quickly as you can. It’s late on in the game and he suddenly looked a bit tired getting across.
“He never really got out to the ball, he just got into the box and let the player come onto him and then backed off a little bit. It’s so difficult, he’s worked his socks off, but last five minutes of the game, that’s when you’ve really got to dig in and try and get out.”
Crossley then added: “It comes from the defender not getting out there quick enough. The last thing you want, especially me in goal as well, I would be screaming at that defender to get out there to the player. Don’t let him get in the box because then he becomes favourite. You can’t tackle in the box, you have to get out there.
“He was just a little bit lethargic getting out to Hudson-Odoi. It’s a catalogue of errors really.”
Josko Gvardiol may be suffering from burnout at Man City
Gvardiol should have got out to Hudson-Odoi quicker.
But then, the Croatian international may well have simply been too tired, as has been suggested by Crossley and Symons.
Gvardiol is someone who has been used heavily this season by Pep Guardiola as a result of all the injuries to defenders.
Man City players with the most minutes in 2024/25
1. Josko Gvardiol – 3343
2. Erling Haaland – 3288
3. Bernardo Silva – 2986
4. Rico Lewis – 2702
5. Ederson – 2610
In fact, he has played the most minutes out of any City player this season, with 3343 which is somewhat alarming.
As he’s made 40 appearances, which equates to 83.5 minutes per match.
That is a huge amount of involvement for this stage of the campaign and realistically, Gvardiol could probably do with a rest.
But Guardiola just can’t afford to do that right now, given there are no real alternatives for that left side and that City are now under pressure to finish in the Champions League places.