Pep Guardiola says one win does not signal that Manchester City are back

LONDON – The several thousand Manchester City fans who travelled to Molineux on Aug 16 sang “City are back”, as Pep Guardiola’s men kicked off their season with a thorough 4-0 English Premier League thrashing of Wolverhampton Wanderers.

But the Spaniard, whose once-mighty team stormed to four consecutive league titles before last season’s shocking third-place finish, pleaded patience, saying that one win meant little.

“The start is a good result, (but) no more than last season. Last season, we started against Chelsea, 2-0 (win), and look what happened later,” he told Sky Sports.

“Last season also, we started with hunger and energy. We see just the first game. So many, many points are still to play (for).”

Revamped City are playing their first season in 10 without midfielder Kevin de Bruyne, while Rodri is sidelined with an injury and Jack Grealish has departed to Everton on a loan deal. Goalkeeper Ederson, who has been linked with a move to Turkey, missed the Aug 16 game with what the club said was an illness.

Guardiola was thrilled with his summer signings, however, as Tijjani Reijnders and Rayan Cherki both scored and goalkeeper James Trafford was solid in goal in a tantalising hint of what could be an entertaining season to come.

“Tijjani is an exceptional player, one of the best players from Serie A. He has an unbelievable rhythm,” Guardiola said of the 27-year-old who was signed from AC Milan.

“The new players have come and we’ve got a bigger squad, so we’ll have to see what happens. We’ll have to use the squad because it’ll be difficult to sustain the vibe of the team.”

Guardiola, however, continued to insist his squad were too big.

“Too many people,” he said. “It’s not about Eddy (Ederson). Today (there) was no Rodri, Phil (Foden), (Mateo) Kovacic, Savinho and Josko (Gvardiol). On the bench, we had Nathan (Ake) and Gundo (Ilkay Gundogan).

“I like a deep squad to compete in all competitions, but I don’t want to leave players at home. It’s not healthy. You cannot create a good vibe or atmosphere to compete.

“The club has known it since last season, but the situation is what it is. In the next two weeks, people will talk with players and agents to find a solution.

“We have to reduce the squad because it will be difficult to sustain the vibe of the team.”

Erling Haaland, who has scored in all four season-opening games during his spell in England’s top flight, struck in the 34th minute, when Reijnders chipped a ball through to Rico Lewis, who sent in a low cross for the Norwegian to tap home.

Reijnders scored three minutes later when Oscar Bobb, who missed most of last season with a broken leg, pounced on a loose pass before setting up the Dutch midfielder, who fired the ball into the far corner.

Haaland, the Premier League’s top scorer in his first two seasons at City, completed his brace in the 61st minute when Bobb pulled the ball back for him to fire a low drive past Jose Sa.

“Erling is in a good tone. We felt it in the training sessions, the rhythm,” Guardiola told Sky Sports. “Really satisfied with that.”

Haaland was replaced by Cherki in the 73rd minute, ending the Norwegian’s hopes of a hat-trick.

Frenchman Cherki completed the rout after 81 minutes in an emphatic start to the season for City, who won the title four years in a row from 2021 to 2024.

Wolves boss Vitor Pereira said City were simply the stronger team.

“We played with bravery, tried to score goals and we had our chances to score. In the end, each time we committed a mistake they punished us with a goal,” he told BBC Radio.

It was an emotional start to the game at Molineux as fans participated in a minute of applause in memory of former Wolves forward Diogo Jota and his brother Andre Silva, who died in a car crash in July.

A huge banner read, “We’ll remember you when you walk in fields of gold”.

The fans chanted “Diogo, Diogo” in the 18th minute – Jota’s jersey number at Wolves – and his shirt was laid on the pitch after full time. REUTERS