Nottingham Forest head coach Nuno Espirito Santo insists Manchester Metropolis stay a top-quality aspect regardless of their poor run of kind heading into Wednesday’s Premier League contest.
Metropolis have gone seven video games and not using a win in all competitions – the longest-such streak in Pep Guardiola’s managerial profession – with six of these ending in defeat.
Sunday’s 2-0 loss at leaders Liverpool leaves the reigning champions fifth and now 11 factors adrift of the Reds, however Nuno is trying past this poor run of kind earlier than dealing with off on the Etihad Stadium.
“It’s the fact of the sport – you all the time have ups and downs,” Nuno stated. “Each workforce must be able to face these moments of uncertainty when issues aren’t going effectively.
“It’s how lengthy you keep there and the way you bounce again from these moments; the way you reorganise and enhance. Their run doesn’t take away the standard and the expertise they’ve.
“Let’s not neglect, they’re the champions and have received a lot with such high quality gamers and such a great supervisor. When you’ve got such high quality gamers and play such good soccer, for certain they’ll flip it round.”
Recharge and go once more. pic.twitter.com/H5bQhrPL74
— Nottingham Forest (@NFFC) December 2, 2024
Metropolis are just one level and one place higher off than Forest, who put back-to-back defeats in opposition to Arsenal and Newcastle United behind them with a 1-0 win over Ipswich City on the weekend.
Guardiola, who has received 18 trophies throughout his eight full seasons as Metropolis boss, is set to battle on having solely simply signed a brand new two-year contract.
“I’ve lived higher earlier than than now,” he stated. “However I’m extremely trustworthy with myself and, once we had been profitable quite a bit, my perspective was I used to be lucky to dwell that.
“Now I’m not depressed that all the pieces goes unhealthy. Once I assume I can’t do it we are going to speak with the membership however I really feel that I wish to do it and life isn’t in all departments good.”
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Manchester Metropolis – Erling Haaland
Haaland has failed to attain in back-to-back Premier League video games for Metropolis, though he does nonetheless have 15 objectives in his previous 11 video games on the Etihad Stadium in all competitions.
The main Premier League high scorer this season, who has 12 objectives in 13 matches general, has additionally netted 4 occasions in two video games on house soil in opposition to Forest.
Nottingham Forest – Chris Wooden
Wooden scored the one objective of the sport within the 1-0 win over Ipswich by way of the penalty spot and likewise has 12 objectives in his previous 13 away Premier League away video games for Forest.
The New Zealand worldwide is seeking to grow to be the primary Reds participant to attain in 4 successive away video games within the competitors, and the primary within the English high flight for the membership since Garry Birtles in 1983-84.
Prepared for extra? pic.twitter.com/zpomnE4CtA
— Premier League (@premierleague) December 2, 2024
MATCH PREDICTION: MAN CITY WIN
Metropolis have conceded three-plus objectives in each of their previous two house video games in all competitions, which they final managed in 1963 when occurring to be relegated from the highest flight.
Guardiola’s males could also be in poor kind, however they’re unbeaten of their previous eight league video games in opposition to Forest stretching again to a 3-2 loss within the second tier in December 1997.
Forest have additionally misplaced their previous 4 away league video games in opposition to Metropolis by an combination scoreline of 12-0, whereas they’re winless of their previous seven top-flight visits since 1989.
The Reds have misplaced their previous 5 away video games in opposition to reigning top-flight champions by an combination scoreline of 21-2, in the meantime, since beating Manchester Metropolis 2-1 in December 1994.
If the omens weren’t already stacked in opposition to Forest, opponents Metropolis are unbeaten of their previous 31 house Premier League video games on a Wednesday, profitable every of the previous 20.
OPTA WIN PROBABILITY
Manchester Metropolis win – 66.8%
Nottingham Forest win – 14.8%
Draw – 18.4%