‘I saw Man City make two subtle changes to pre-match routine to stop losing run – it worked instantly’ — Says Guardiola as he gave insight on what he & his team did different

What you might have missed: There were two subtle changes to Manchester City’s pre-match routine that could have made all the difference. Pep Guardiola and his team masterminded it and didn’t backfire… It worked.

On the News: City put an end to their six-game winless run with a 3-0 win over Nottingham Forest. The match marked a crucial return to form for Pep Guardiola’s side, but it wasn’t just the usual suspects who made the difference.

Know this: Kevin De Bruyne, back in the starting lineup after a long injury layoff, delivered a goal and an assist in the first half, proving his importance to City’s attack.

Keep in mind: The first adjustment was in the warm-up. Instead of the usual passing drills and rondos, the forwards focused more on shooting in front of the main goal, with wingers feeding them crosses.

Apparently: The shift seemed to sharpen City’s attacking play. The opening goal came from a well-placed De Bruyne chip, with Bernardo Silva poking it over the line – a move that reflected the focused finishing drills before the match.

The second change? The team bus arrived 20 minutes earlier than usual, catching some fans off guard due to the heavy rain. The quiet arrival kept things low-key, avoiding any unnecessary fanfare or added pressure.

Know this: Guardiola wasn’t exactly pleased with his star players, though. Haaland made a couple of errors in the first half that gave Forest chances to break forward.

De Bruyne also had a moment of carelessness, gifting the ball to Chris Wood.

Guardiola’s frustration was visible, but both players made up for their mistakes, with De Bruyne scoring again soon after his error.

The good news? In the end, the tweaks seemed to work. City looked sharper, and the win was exactly what they needed to turn the page on their recent struggles.