“We could have won because we controlled all the long balls in first half but in the second half, we lost just because of him, he’s a THREAT to our defensive”- “Pep Guardiola makes SHOCK admission about one Nottingham Forest Star who was absolutely behind their shameful lose. Forget Callum Hudson-Odoi
This season has presented a unique challenge for Pep Guardiola as his Manchester City team continues to underperform, with Nottingham Forest adding to their woes on Saturday.
City went into the match just one point behind Nuno Espirito Santo’s side, but a late winner from Callum Hudson-Odoi left the Premier League champions with work to do, while Forest celebrated jubilantly.
Forest fans celebrated Morgan Gibbs-White’s assist in the win over City, as the Reds found the crucial touch to defeat their European football-chasing rivals.
This might not have been a surprise, as Guardiola had previously singled out both Gibbs-White and Hudson-Odoi for praise ahead of the match.
Espirito Santo also set his team up effectively defensively, with Rio Ferdinand lauding Murillo’s performance.
However, Guardiola’s focus after the match was more on Forest’s offensive efforts rather than their defense.
Pep Guardiola Highlights Callum Hudson-Odoi’s Role in Forest’s Victory
Hudson-Odoi’s importance to Forest has been clear recently, with his performance against Newcastle, despite the 4-3 defeat, showcasing his ability to make an impact.
On Saturday, his match-winning goal against City solidified his status as one of Forest’s key players, a fact that Guardiola couldn’t ignore.
In his post-match interview with BBC Sport, Guardiola commented: “We controlled the long balls to [Chris] Wood and second balls in transition. But in the second half, we lost possession once in transition, and Callum Hudson-Odoi finished it really well.”
Although Hudson-Odoi’s goal was the standout moment, Guardiola also praised the solid defensive work from Forest, adding: “It’s not easy to play against them, which is why they’re where they are.
We had three or four chances in the first half, but the second half was tighter.”
Callum Hudson-Odoi’s Match-Winning Performance in Numbers
While it wasn’t a game that allowed Hudson-Odoi to freely express himself in attack, he made the most of his limited opportunities.
The winger only had 33 touches in total, but five of them were passes into the final third—a solid contribution. Of course, the most significant touch was the match-winning goal.
Beyond that, Hudson-Odoi forced an excellent save from Ederson from the edge of the box and created two chances for his teammates.
As Forest sought to control the tempo against City’s possession-heavy style, Espirito Santo would have appreciated the two fouls Hudson-Odoi won, as well as his perfect 100% success rate in duels.
Looking ahead, Forest are keen to secure Hudson-Odoi to a new contract at the end of the season, especially with the possibility of European football on the horizon. If that happens, fans can expect more standout performances from the English winger at the City Ground.
