Maresca says Guehi and Gvardiol injuries forced changes
Why Enzo Maresca Substituted Marc Guehi and Josko Gvardiol at half‑time in the Nottingham Forest Defeat, after the visitors fell behind inside six minutes, a loss that made Manchester City the first top‑flight side since Sheffield Wednesday in 1904‑05 to lose three consecutive league games after a seven‑win start under Maresca.
The defeat was the third league game in a row Manchester City conceded early, following losses to Aston Villa and Brighton and Hove Albion, and Maresca criticised his side’s lack of intensity after the final whistle.
Jair Cunha opened the scoring for Nottingham Forest inside six minutes, winning the ball from Josko Gvardiol, driving to the edge of the area and finishing into the far corner for his first Forest goal.
Liam Delap doubled the lead before the interval after a mix‑up between Iliman Ndiaye and Elliot Anderson allowed the striker to run from the centre circle and strike into the top corner, with Marc Guehi and Joao Dias unable to stop him.
Second‑half drama
Rayan Cherki pulled one back for Manchester City seven minutes after the restart with a half‑volley from the edge of the area.
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Delap sealed the win in the 73rd minute after a return pass from Morgan Gibbs‑White, leaving the Blues six points behind leaders Arsenal going into the international break.
In the post‑match press conference Maresca explained the half‑time changes, saying: “Both injury, both asked for change. Marc Guehi injury and Josko Gvardiol had some issues already during the week. So it was just because they had problems.”
Matheus Nunes replaced Guehi at half‑time and Nico O’Reilly came on for Gvardiol, despite Maresca’s fitness concern over the 21‑year‑old after a back problem kept him out of the November England squad.
Gvardiol had been an unused substitute in the 3‑2 UEFA Champions League win at RB Leipzig last week, with only Antoine Semenyo confirmed absent from Maresca’s squad.
This was the second time in three Premier League games that Guehi was withdrawn at the interval, after his loose touch led to Nicolas Jackson’s opener at Villa Park, and the extent of both defenders’ problems remains to be seen.
Manchester City return to action against Fulham at the Etihad Stadium on 21 November, host Napoli in the Champions League three days later and travel to face Arsenal on 29 November, all against the backdrop of the independent commission guilty verdict and subsequent appeal lodged by the club.