Overview
- Manchester City beat Nottingham Forest 2-1 at the City Ground, with Tijjani Reijnders scoring from a Rayan Cherki assist before the 83rd‑minute winner from Cherki after Omari Hutchinson had equalised.
- The victory makes it six straight league wins and eight in all competitions, keeping City two points behind leaders Arsenal in a tightening title race.
- Guardiola’s light‑hearted post‑match gesture toward a cameraman was widely described as playful, recalling a separate November flashpoint for which he later apologised.
- The manager repeated his “Energy, energy, energy” mantra and pointed to the Florida Club World Cup camp and additions to his staff, including Pep Lijnders, Kolo Touré and James French, as turning points.
- Guardiola hailed Cherki’s growing influence, saying he sometimes wants to shout at him and sometimes “kiss” him, as the 22‑year‑old continues a run that Forbes reports includes a league‑leading assist tally.