Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola offers simple explanation after costly draw at Nottingham Forest
- Planet Sport writer
- 18 February 2023
Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola says his side only have themselves to blame after they dropped crucial points in the Premier League title race at Nottingham Forest.
City looked prime to return to the top of the table after Arsenal's lunchtime win over Aston Villa when they went ahead through Bernardo Silva's first-half stunner.
But a string of missed chances after the break, including two from Erling Haaland, proved costly and Chris Wood's first goal for Forest in the 83rd minute saw them take a point.
The draw, which should have been off the table for the hosts, means the Gunners now hold a two-point lead over City at the top of the table with a game in hand.
"It was a brilliant performance, we played really good but we didn't score," Guardiola said. "At this level you have to score and that is why we dropped points.
"The first half should already be 2-0 or 3-0, we conceded one shot on target and we dropped points. We are sad and disappointed but the way we played was really good.
"We missed the chances we missed because today was not our day to win the game.
"We missed goals that were one metre to the goalkeeper, not just one, a few. That is why we didn't win. What can I say?
"We played a really good game. We missed the second goal and then after the second the third would have arrived. We have to look at ourselves, we can do better.
"Today we missed too many chances. It happens in football. Today we were much better than the opponent but we have to score goals. We didn't do it so we have to blame ourselves."
Guardiola picked up a yellow card for his furious reaction to Graham Scott's decision not to award a foul - and likely red card - when Haaland went down under a challenge from Joe Worrall when through on goal.
"We don't make any excuses. I could say many things that have happened this season," he said. "I am not a guy who is here to talk about things we cannot control.
"I don't know, it looks like the last man (Haaland) went to the keeper and fell down. Why would you fall down when you are one against one to the keeper.
"I was complaining to the fourth official, why would Haaland stop when he was one-on-one to score a goal and after that I got a well deserved yellow card."
