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Bernardo Silva and Pep Guardiola frustrated with decisions after draw with Nottingham Forest

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Bernardo Silva and Pep Guardiola frustrated with decisions after draw with Nottingham Forest

Bernardo Silva and Pep Guardiola frustrated with decisions after Man City’s 2-2 draw with Nottingham Forest on Wednesday night.

Forest twice come from behind through Morgan Gibbs-White and Elliot Anderson, cancelling out Antoine Semenyo’s volley and Rodri’s header.

The result sees City fall seven points behind leaders Arsenal, while Pereira’s side sit outside the relegation zone on goal difference.

Man City were denied all of their penalty appeals in the final few minutes when Erling Haaland and Rodri went down in the box.

The first came when Selz made contact with Haaland and a second contentious incident saw Rodri had claimed for a foul after tangling with Eliot Anderson following a shot on goal.

Manchester City captain Bernardo Silva speaking to TNT Sports: “Quite frustrating because playing at home and twice we were leading and we couldn’t keep the result. At the end we had a lot of chances, they went up twice and scored two goals. Sometimes football is like this.

“They are a good team, a very good team, with a lot of quality. Five at the back, normally they play four but they decide to go more defensive, more patient, it’s always difficult to break through a block of five.

“They were patient enough to punish us when they were able to counter, we weren’t stable enough in terms of not allowing them to find spaces. Especially at 2-1, we allowed them to run a few times.

“I feel we should have won today with the chances we created, but sometimes football is like this.”

Should City have had a penalty?

“We are used to this this season, all the 50-50s have gone against us. The Erling incident – for me it is a penalty. What can Erling do? This season we are used to it, we know how it works.

“Our job is to be better. These things we cannot control. What we can control is our own performances. That is what we must focus on.”

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola speaking to TNT Sports: “I am disappointed for the result. We did everything again, didn’t concede much, had chances at the end and during the game, but yeah, we keep going.

“Always we try to do the best, how they run and do it. At home it’s important [to win], but we keep going.”

On City’s penalty appeals: “Nothing to say.”

On the title race: “On we go to Newcastle in FA Cup, Madrid Champions League, game-by-game.

“We are used to playing in lots of competitions. We have a lot of games to play, so we have to continue.”

Guardiola speaking to BBC Match of the Day: “We did everything, we could do a little better, but it is what it is.”

What could you do better? “Score goals.”

What things did you do well? “In general there were many good things.

“I would like to concede fewer, but it’s not about analysing one specific action. I never point fingers at my players. We did everything, had the chances at the end and in first half. The momentum. But something always happens and we could not win.”

Nottingham Forest manager Vitor Pereira speaking to BBC Match of the Day: “I’m very proud of my players and supporters. We came to play our game, try and be organised, waiting for the time to attack, and we did well. We scored two fantastic goals. We competed for the points, trying to win the game. They tried to win the game. We had a good spirit, we need that for the next games.”

On what he told his players at half-time: “I told them to understand the spaces they [City] were conceding to us. To take the ball from the pressure and find the spaces. And risk a bit, take risks, football is not just about organisation, it’s about talent and feeling confident to express themselves.

“We don’t need just talent, but characters. They have spirit. Together we can do it [avoid relegation].

“First half was more conservative, good origination, try to be compact, wait for the moment to go and counter. But that isn’t enough just to defend and counter isn’t enough, you have to have ball. That’s what I asked for the second half, quality to play with ball not jut without ball.

“What we proved today was each game is an opportunity to get points. I don’t care if it’s City away, another club away or another club at home. We can’t decide that this game is not posible to get points. We must go with mentality that we can get win.”

 Pereira speaking to TNT Sports: “It is not easy to play here against City, with one day less to recover. In the end we played a good game, first half more defending, but we created two big chances to score. After their goal we started to understand the spaces they concede to us, and we scored good goal.

“It was a pity the corner [City’s second goal] because we knew they would try the far post. But overall I am happy with the speed, the performance, and it is very positive to see our future together.

On his confidence of avoiding relegation: “I am very positive, I believe a lot in the quality of the players. I believe with a little bit of time, I hope next week, we can increase our level. They have quality, we are organised, and I believe with this spirit we have the conditions to get points everywhere.

“[I have had only] two training sessions with the team, because the other ones were to recover the team, not to work [on new ideas].”

On City’s penalty appeals: “It’s normal in football. They want to win, to push the referee, this is normal. In my opinion this is not a game we can complain about the referee.”

Nottingham Forest midfielder Elliot Anderson speaking to TNT Sports: “It was massive, obviously we’ve had a poor run, we knew coming here we would have to fight and work hard because they are a top side. We dug out a point, we are really happy.

“It keeps us pushing, we’ve got such a team spirit. I couldn’t fault the effort of the lads, I thought we fought really hard today.”

On Morgan Gibbs-White’s backheel goal: “It was a great finish and got the belief going for the team.

“We’ve got a few days off after a lot of games. Then we will be back on the pitch working top pick up more points in this battle.”

Nottingham Forest midfielder Morgan Gibbs-White speaking to BBC Match of the Day: “First half wasn’t good enough from us. We defended well in spells but the goal we conceded was sloppy. The main message at half-time was we had to believe, have confidence, and i think the boys showed that in abundance. The boys showed incredible fight and character to get a pint from the game.

“I feel like we need to attack games. It’s easier said than done. Coming to a place like the Etihad, City are going to have more of the ball and control the game. It’s about being patient, staying focused when you get your chances and moments to take them, and we did tonight.”

On his backheel goal: “It was a bit of instinct when the ball came to me. I just had one thought in my mind and luckily it came off and got us back in the game. The boys showed incredible fight, that’s how we need to approach every game.”

On Elliot Anderson: “I’ll always praise Eliot, he is an incredible player, a really key payer, he has incredible talent, and he is still so young. The world is his oyster at the minute.”



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