Manchester City secured their first win in eight games with a 3-0 victory over Nottingham Forest, but the match was overshadowed by injury concerns for two defenders. Manuel Akanji was substituted at halftime for Kyle Walker, while Nathan Ake was forced off later in the game, appearing to hold his hamstring after a challenge.

Despite the convincing win, Pep Guardiola expressed a downbeat mood post-match, saying, “Nathan doesn’t look good. We’ll see tomorrow. Manu has struggled a lot in the last two months. I appreciate their willingness to play in unnatural positions. We’ll see what happens.”

Guardiola indicated that Ake might be sidelined for a longer period, and he was uncertain about Akanji’s availability for upcoming matches, including the fixture at Selhurst Park on Saturday. He also addressed Phil Foden’s status, confirming that Foden had bronchitis but would be ready to play once he was fever-free.

Kevin De Bruyne was a standout performer against Forest, contributing a goal and an assist in his first start since September. Although he appeared to experience some discomfort post-game, Guardiola noted that any injury did not seem serious. “We’ll see how he recovers after such a long injury layoff,” Guardiola said. “I’m so happy for him. He fought hard to return to form, and today he played 75 fantastic minutes.”

Reflecting on the match, Guardiola emphasized the importance of the win. “We needed this victory; the club, the players, everyone needed it. But it’s just one game, and in three days we face a tough challenge at Selhurst Park.”