Say what you want about Manchester City, they are generally pretty good losers. In general quite gracious. By perfecting that specific art with considerable exercise, this meant a ninth defeat of the year – more than the previous two seasons together.
Pep Guardiola never complains – saving complaints for victories – and the players tend to keep their hands up, even if Ruben Dias has now doubted the dry pitch of Nottingham Forest on another day of slow frustration for the deposited champions behind Liverpool.
Respect for the opponent is a Mantra City Live by, a message from the top and was in action in the parking lot on Saturday afternoon. Txiki Begiristain, the departing director of football, hung around to catch Nuno Espirito Santo. Begiristain offered his congratulations, who lovingly scratched the Portuguese beard, the couple who spoke for a few minutes and hung it out. There was a real warmth when the spirit of Begiristain will be raced.
Despite the late winner of Callum Hudson-Odoi, the circumstances from which the city will be avoided, and a general malaise in possession, they clearly recognize the story on the city men that are undertaken by a non-annulated manager who gambles the pocket race last summer.
Nuno took Snelly Begiristain's cheering. Measured in his acceptance, more measured than the fireworks that left on Radcliffe Road on full -time. They were lit when Forest earned a draw in the same fixture two years ago, but this time much more deserved.
Was this the day they confirmed the qualification of the Champions League? It now feels close by, the striking story of the division about the campaign with 1979, 1980 and Zo. The city shook on Saturday; Imagine the basis and when a European heavyweight pops up on a Tuesday evening in six months.
The manager of Forest seemed less reserved in the dressing room, it must be said, roughly for tunes as a full back Ola Aina filmed, and it is good to see that Nuno allows his personality occasionally.
Don't be difficult when every supporter continues to do the last whistle to roar their team through the tunnel. It was really a feast for the eyes, an emotional moment when reality felt like it was all of thousands in one wave.
With the fifth almost certainly enough to make the Champions League – that will offer lighting for City – and the gap to sixth now five points, Forest only needs a few victories. At this point everything would be less than finishing the job something of a failure, as hard as it sounds.
City would also kick themselves if they didn't figure this out. After in-form Brighton next weekend, the run-in is favorable for Guardiola after a punishing fixture list, including Arsenal Away, Liverpool, Tottenham and this inverted in the Midlands.
Guardiola says it is in their hands and of course he is right. If the city appears these 10 games, they will be in that competition for a 15th consecutive year. Fifteen. Maybe they are actually missing.
There are things to repair. More courage on the ball, to begin with, and it was up to the GalWieten to see how replacement Kevin De Bruyne tried to direct the traffic – pointing where he wanted runners – while he drove forward with the ball. City is usually so synchronous but not here and not this season.
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