Pep Guardiola has explained why he’s expecting a touch challenge against Nottingham Forest on Saturday.

City travel to the City Ground on Saturday 18 February (15:00 UK) in the Premier League, after the crucial 3-1 victory over Arsenal last time out moved us to the league’s summit. 

Under the stewardship of Steve Cooper, the East Midlands side ended a 24-year hiatus from the Premier League by winning the 2021/22 Championship Play-Offs.

This added to the Welshman’s achievements before joining Forest of reaching the Championship showpiece event with Swansea (2020/21) and winning the Under-17s World Cup with England in 2017.

After a difficult start to life back in the top-flight, this weekend’s hosts have lost just once in the league since the turn of the year - moving them to 14th place in the table.

And the boss shared his admiration for our opponents and their head coach ahead of the clash at the City Ground.

“Momentum is when you win 10 games in a row, it hasn’t happened this season. We lost three games ago, we lost in north London against Tottenham,” he said.

“Momentum is tomorrow at 3, be ready. Mentally against a team who has just lost one game in the last six. Many important games at home with the crowd.

“With a manager we respect a lot for what he’s done for English football with a young team.

“What he did last season when he took over, Nottingham were in a really difficult position. They got promoted and he’s done really well.

“Yeah [impressed] with [Cooper’s work with], the national team as well, absolutely. We admire him in a tough moment in the beginning of the season and the results are there.”

Watch Guardiola‘s full press conference via the video above!

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