Manchester City are back to winning ways, delivering their most convincing performance in eight games—thanks to the return of a familiar hero and the emergence of a surprising midfield creator.
Kevin De Bruyne made an emphatic comeback, notching a goal and assist in the first half against Nottingham Forest, evoking memories of his stellar display against Newcastle last season. City, desperate for attacking fluency during his absence, immediately looked more cohesive with their talisman orchestrating play. Guardiola’s patience in bringing De Bruyne back at the right moment seems vindicated, as the Belgian was “running the show” on his return.
Guardiola dismissed recent rumors of a rift between himself and De Bruyne, which had been fueled by pundits like Carragher, Neville, and Lineker. De Bruyne’s selection from the start silenced those claims, with Guardiola staying focused on the bigger picture.
The ripple effect of De Bruyne’s influence was visible as other players raised their game. Guardiola made tactical tweaks, including recalling Jeremy Doku to the left, pushing Bernardo Silva higher on the right, and deploying Jack Grealish centrally—an experiment rarely seen since Grealish’s arrival in 2021.
Grealish, often deployed as a winger, had only started one Premier League game as a central attacking midfielder before—his first match for City back in the 2021/22 season. While some have criticized Guardiola for limiting Grealish’s creativity compared to his free role at Aston Villa, Guardiola’s strategy paid dividends in the 2023 Treble-winning season, even if it meant sacrificing Grealish’s goal-scoring opportunities.
Injuries and inconsistency had derailed Grealish’s form over the last season, but on Wednesday, he looked rejuvenated in his natural position. Linking seamlessly with De Bruyne and Bernardo, Grealish showcased his flair with one-twos, overlaps, underlaps, tricks, and even a few well-placed shots. Though he didn’t score, it was a glimpse of the dynamic player many expected when he signed for £100 million.
The South Stand serenaded him with chants of ‘Super Jack Grealish,’ and the most noticeable transformation was his smile and confidence as he embraced the number ten role. Guardiola acknowledged the improvement in City’s overall play, with the midfield connecting more effectively to the wingers and Erling Haaland.
While it remains uncertain if Grealish will permanently occupy the central role, Wednesday’s performance showed its potential. After 138 games since his last start in midfield, could this be the moment Grealish finally secures his dream role at City?
