Pep Lijnders: Pep Guardiola credits ex-Liverpool coach for tactical tweaks in Manchester City win – ‘Maybe I am his assistant!’

After a goalless first half on Saturday afternoon at the City Ground, Guardiola said he spoke to the ex-Liverpool coach, appointed in the summer, about changes to make to the side.

On 48 minutes, Tijjani Reijnders put the visitors ahead, but Omari Hutchinson levelled for Forest six minutes later, before Rayan Cherki scored a late winner – after more consultation between the two City coaches.

Speaking to TNT Sports, Guardiola explained the tactical problems in the first half.

He said: “(There were) too many players behind the ball, not in the right pockets, when you break inside, outside, and have the chance to create chances.

“That is what happened, and it was slightly different. First, we had too many players behind. That was a problem.”

‘Its gone in’ – Cherki puts City back in front against Forest

Video credit: TNT Sports

Guardiola then praised Lijnders for his intervention, saying he pointed in celebration at his namesake after a change in tactics brought swift results. He also said in jest that it might be more appropriate to consider Lijnders a manager in his own right, and perhaps he himself should be considered the assistant.

“Pep is so good, he is so, so good,” he began. “He’s a top manager. Players like it. Sometimes you think he is an assistant – maybe I am his assistant! He’s a top manager.

“We talked at half-time in the last minutes. We changed the shape a little bit, to attack a little bit differently.

“Sometimes when you take a decision, it immediately works. You are more exposed in transitions. That’s why we conceded the goal. In general, really, really pleased.”

TNT Sports pundits Joe Cole and Jolean Lescott both thought that the introduction of Lijnders, as well as Kolo Toure, had given the coaching setup at the Etihad a necessary refresh after Guardiola had struggled to match his previous standards last term.

Former City defender Lescott claimed: “That is definitely the factor, having spoken to some players in the squad earlier in the season. At pre-season, a fresh voice, Pep Guardiola allowing Lijnders to deliver messages in a different tone, just galvanises players. New signings as well.

“There’s a combination of a lot of things that the club recognised as well last season that weren’t right. They changed them, and they’re getting more momentum from that.”

An even more effusive Cole added: “He’s a genius. I was excited for what he was going to do. He’s changed two – Kolo Toure’s come in.

“When you’ve been at a club for a long time, and you’ve had sustained success, you need a change of voices. But they need to be good voices. It’s like anything at a football club. If you put a bit of oil in the water, it can poison it.  He clearly likes Pep Lijinders. They’ve come in, benefited.

“(Phil) Foden, he’s kicked on again. The signings have hit the ground running, so there’s a lot to be positive about.

“I’m really glad, because it looked like Arsenal could have run away with it, and we don’t want that. We need a Premier League title race where it’s nip and tuck. Every Saturday and Sunday, results are going to go either way, changing, and it looks like we’ve got that.”

‘He looks happier now’ – Cole sees change in Guardiola

The former Chelsea attacker also warned that the improvement is not good news for Arsenal, who otherwise might have an easy shot at their first Premier League title in more than a decade.

He said: “Remember him this time last year. He didn’t look happy. He looks happier now, less stressed.

“He knows he’s got a team that’s got a rhythm to it. You watch them play, Foden and Cherki together, sensational.

“He does look happier, and that is quite bad for Arsenal, actually. He is in a good place.”