This was about more than just tactics as Manchester City were bullied by Nottingham Forest

This was about more than just tactics as Manchester City were bullied by Nottingham Forest Manchester City were swept aside physically by Nottingham Forest in their opening half-hour, and their 3-1 defeat to Oliver Glasner’s side at The City Ground on Saturday was a reflection of that. Enzo Maresca’s side struggled to match the physicality and energy of a hungry Forest side. That early burst from the hosts was enough for them to take a stranglehold on Saturday’s Premier League fixture that they would not relinquish. Manchester City fought back in the second half but they had left themselves with too much to do and by the 73rd minute, when Liam Delap scored his second goal, City were condemned to their third consecutive defeat in the Premier League. Tactically, there are clear issues with Enzo Maresca’s side. However, early on against Nottingham Forest they were bullied, which is an issue in itself. Manchester City didn’t bring the required intensity against Nottingham Forest. Manchester City weren’t up for the fight during the opening half-hour of their 3-1 loss to Nottingham Forest. Oliver Glasner had his side primed for the visit of the FA Cup and Carabao Cup holders. His players responded and they went about seizing control of the match in the opening 20 minutes. Jair Cunha dispossessed Josko Gvardiol in the 6th minute and surged into space to comfortably slot home with his left foot to give Nottingham Forest a 1-0 lead. Forest’s opening goal was indicative of how the opening half-hour played out. Nottingham Forest were winning the duels and the Manchester City players didn’t match their intensity. Nottingham Forest’s second goal, scored by Liam Delap in the 18th minute, summed up Manchester City’s opening half-hour. A duel took place just inside the City half. Iliman Ndiaye pulled out of the duel, calling in Elliot Anderson to seize possession. Anderson was drawn out of position and lost a pivotal duel to Forest midfielder Xaver Schlager. Schlager’s touch set Liam Delap free. Delap surged forward and fired past Gianluigi Donnarumma to make it 2-0 after 18 minutes. The opening half-hour set the tone of the match and despite the fact that Manchester City came to life in the second half, it was too late. The Manchester City players weren’t up for the fight at The City Ground. Not in the opening stages of the game. That is an issue in itself. You do have to wonder why. Couple this with the tactical flaws in this City side and there was only ever one winner of Saturday’s match. Enzo Maresca admitted that his team wasn’t up for the fight until it was too late. Speaking after his team lost their third consecutive Premier League match, Enzo Maresca admitted that his team’s inability to win duels cost them dearly against Nottingham Forest. He explained: “ I will speak quite clearly. In the first half when you do not match the intensity and lose all the duels, it is difficult. Then we want to react, but it is too late. ” “ It’s quite clear, the first half we were not good, we did not match the intensity that these kinds of games require. “ “ We concede one and then two and then we tried to react. But most of the time, when you are two goals down it’s too late. “ “ The second half we started much, much better, we scored one and we could have scored more, and then in transition, after we lost the duel, we conceded the third goal. “ Final thoughts. Enzo Maresca has clear tactical issues with his team that he must fix. These are clear to see and have been ever-present throughout this season. Manchester City will not improve or become consistent until the system plays to the strengths of the players. However, despite the tactical deficiencies, the City players still have to be up for the physical battle. They weren’t against Nottingham Forest and they got the result they deserved. Nottingham Forest basically bullied Enzo Maresca’s side in the opening half-hour. Murillo and Jair Cunha were superb in the physical battle. As was the entire Forest midfield. Manchester City’s players didn’t match that intensity and left themselves too much to do to get back into the game. Despite the fact that City upped the ante in the second half, it was another duel that decided the game. Matheus Nunes was beaten by Liam Delap inside his own half that set Forest away to seal the game. In essence, that duel summed up the entire game at The City Ground. This Manchester City side has flaws in its set-up. That is clear to see. However, what cannot happen is that Enzo Maresca’s side is bullied early on as it is a blow that they cannot recover from. That is what transpired against Nottingham Forest and it is another issue that the City players have to solve themselves. Enzo Maresca can’t win the duels on the pitch, the City players have to be up for the fight otherwise they will be up against it as they were against Forest.