Man City left with no Pep in their step
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has admitted his side’s hopes of winning a third straight Premier League title are ‘‘unrealistic’’ after they were beaten, 3-2, at Wolves yesterday.
The 10 men of City — reduced in number by the early sending off of goalkeeper Ederson — led through two Raheem Sterling goals but Adama Traore, Raul Jimenez and Matt Doherty all scored in the second half to win it for Wolves.
The home side moved to fifth with the win while City remain third, 14 points behind leaders Liverpool, who have a game in hand on the top two.
‘‘It [the gap] is big for a long time,’’ Guardiola said. ‘‘It is not realistic to think about the title race. I have been asked the question for a long time and it is the same answer.’’
Sergio Aguero started for City after injury but the visitors made the worst possible start. Ederson was sent off on 12 minutes when he raced out of his area and brought down Diogo Jota.
Despite the one-man deficit, Sterling put City in front and doubled the lead five minutes into the second half. His opening goal was from the spot after Riyad Mahrez went down in the area.
VAR gave the penalty and Sterling’s initial effort was saved by Rui Patricio. But the spot-kick was ordered to be retaken due to encroachment and, after the goalkeeper saved again, Sterling tapped in the rebound.
His second in the 50th minute was more straight forward as he broke through and lifted the ball over an advancing Patricio.
Traore reduced the deficit to one goal and then laid on the second for Jimenez before Doherty won it one minute from the end of normal time.
Guardiola said
City now needed to forget about Liverpool and focus on winning their next match (at home to Sheffield United tomorrow).
‘‘We have to think of the next game and about winning our games,’’ he said.
Wolves became the first team to beat a Guardiola side home and away in the league since Chelsea in 2016-17.
‘‘It was a good night, a very good night,’’ Wolves manager Nuno Esperito Santo said.
‘‘The game was fantastic. Everything changes with City with one man less but it was very good.
‘‘We conceded the second goal and made it hard for ourselves but it was a fantastic reaction. It was very good, the goals were nice, just very good.’’
Doherty crowned the comeback with a stunning third and said he could barely believe the way his team-mates had come back against the champions.
‘‘It’s pretty special,’’ Doherty said. ‘‘They were 2-0 up at one point. I can hardly hear myself speak.
‘‘Just to come back was unbelievable. We never give up and that sums up our form at the moment.’’
‘‘It’s unrealistic to think about that [catching Liverpool]. In 48 hours we have another game.’’ Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola