What Pep Guardiola did after Tijjani Reijnders goal highlights hidden Man City strength

Manchester City beat Nottingham Forest 2-1 in the Premier League on Saturday and assistant Pep Lijnders played his part in the win

Ask a Manchester City fan to name their signing of 2025 and most would likely say Rayan Cherki after the playmaker scored a late winner to earn three precious points at Nottingham Forest on Saturday. Some might go for Gianluigi Donnarumma, others perhaps Tijjani Reijnders who got the first at the City Ground.

But might the most influential addition at the Etihad be one made off the pitch? When Reijnders arrowed in the opener against Forest, Blues boss Pep Guardiola turned and pointed at his assistant Pep Lijnders with a look of recognition. Cherki might have got the assist for his lovely through ball but perhaps it should have gone to the Dutchman in the dugout.

The 42-year-old arrived as Guardiola's number two in the summer having spent many a season trying to beat the Blues while part of Jurgen Klopp's staff at Liverpool. His influence has been evident at City

The game at Forest was goalless at the break with City under the cosh somewhat in a first half light on clear chances. Lijnders had his say during the interval and advised Guardiola on a tactical shift to find the City attackers space. It paid off almost immediately.

"He is so good. He is a top manager," said Guardiola of Lijnders influence after the game. "Sometimes people think, 'he's the assistant', well maybe I am his assistant. We talked at half time and changed a little bit the shape."

It's not the first time Guardiola has lent on Lijnders and not the first time Lijnders has made a mid-game suggestion that the manager has acted on and that has helped City claim vital points.

After the 3-2 win over Leeds last month, which came from a late Phil Foden goal after City had thrown away a two-goal advantage, Guardiola referenced Lijnders and his experience at Liverpool of helping sides claim late goals.

"Pep Lijnders is now with me, have been in Liverpool for many years and how many times they were able to win these type of games, and the only chance is put the ball there and we did it good," said the City boss.

So it was again on Saturday, with Cherki scoring the winner with seven minutes remaining. There were several occasions this season where City surrendered leads in the second half or in the final few minutes to drop points. But they haven't surrendered a winning position since the Champions League draw with Monaco in October having done so twice by that point.

Lijnders is evidently a part of that, and Guardiola has spoken all season about the improvements he can see in this young City team. Those marginal gains extend to the dugout.