Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola was pleased with his side’s performance as they began their 2025-26 English Premier League campaign with a convincing 4-0 win at Wolves.
The Cityzens had hoped for a fast start to the new season, as they hope to bounce back from a dismal 2024-25 season and reclaim the title they lost to Liverpool last season.
In a season blighted by injuries to several key players, they finished third in the league and were eliminated in the first knockout round of the UEFA Champions League by Real Madrid.
The 2023 treble winners were stunned in the FA Cup final by Crystal Palace, losing 1-0 at Wembley in May to end the season without a major piece of silverware.
Speaking after the match on Saturday, Guardiola was impressed with his side’s attitude and performance, especially with their new signings playing huge roles in the victory.
“First half good, second no. The attitude and many things were good, but the second half, they were better in certain moments but it’s good to improve winning 4-0. All the new ones [were impressive]. Tijjani was one of the best players in Serie A, he has an unbelievable rhythm”, Guardiola said.
“In the first game, you never know. We didn’t play many friendlies in pre-season, but many things were good, especially in the first half. In the second half, we dropped too much but maybe that is normal in the beginning of the season.”
Erling Haaland (2), Tijjani Reijnders and Rayan Cherki were all on the scoresheet in the big win as they moved top of the standings.
“Last season, we also started with hunger and energy… I don’t have any complaints over how we’re behaving in the training sessions. But we will see, it is just the first game so there are many points still to play”, he added.
Manchester City play their second league match of the new campaign at home next Saturday against Tottenham Hotspur, who defeated newly-promoted Burnley 3-0.
Olakitan is a young writer with a strong passion for sports, having gained experience with IndyPress and Nimelssa Press. His enthusiasm for sports inspired him to cover events both within his school and beyond. With a deep understanding of the game and a refined skillset, he brings sports coverage to a broad, global audience in a way that’s engaging and accessible.
