Pep Guardiola praised Kevin De Bruyne after the Belgian’s standout performance helped Manchester City secure a 3-0 victory over Nottingham Forest, their first win in 39 days. However, he expressed concern about injuries to Nathan Ake and Manuel Akanji, who both left the match early.

De Bruyne scored and provided an assist, reinforcing his importance to the team. Guardiola remarked, “I’m so happy for him. When he’s fit, he’s crucial. We needed this win; the club, the players, everyone needed it, but it’s just one win.”

The City manager noted that their performance was not drastically different from recent games. This victory marked their first since defeating Southampton in October, breaking a streak of four straight league losses. “It was better than the Liverpool and Bournemouth games but similar to our other losses,” Guardiola said.

When asked if the difference was due to other players scoring rather than relying solely on Erling Haaland, he simply stated, “The difference tonight was that we won.”

Guardiola confirmed that Ake is likely facing a lengthy absence due to a hamstring issue, having already missed five weeks earlier in the season for the same reason. Akanji was substituted at halftime for Kyle Walker. “The problems continued with Manuel and Nathan. Nathan doesn’t look good; I think he will be out for a while,” Guardiola said, adding that Akanji’s condition would be assessed before their next match in Turin.

Nottingham Forest manager Nuno Espirito Santo acknowledged City’s quality, despite their seven-game winless streak before this match. “It was very difficult for us because of their quality. It’s not just De Bruyne; controlling these players individually is tough. No one doubts the quality of City’s players and their manager,” he stated. “My players gave it their all. We lost, but we challenged ourselves.”