Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
RULE OF THUMB
Guardiola delight as City have that imperious look of invincibility as they brush Wolves aside
THEY were straight out of the blocks, full of speed, energy and intent.
Kevin De Bruyne picked up where he left off last season, Raheem Sterling was so strong defenders just bounced off him, and even Phil Foden tried to make amends in his first game since being sent home from England duty in disgrace.
Manchester City look a team re-energised, ready to go again with a new purpose and a determination to l ast the course in this season’s title race and put up a real fight this time. Even a late Wolves revival that saw Raul Jimenez pull a goal back in the 78th minute couldn’t shake them out of their stride.
Yes they coasted a little too much after the break. Yes, they allowed Wolves chances – notably for Daniel Podence and Jimenez – that on another day could easily have been converted. But City oozed quality right from kick-off.
De Bruyne was so impressive in midfield as he orchestrated the play that if often left you looking around just to check that City did not have an extra man or two on the pitch. tch.
This was a statement nt of i ntent from Pep p Guardiola’s men and the City boss himself looked even more pumped and intense e on the touchline as he barked orders to his players before celebrating wildly when they scored.
There was a debut for Nathan Ake (above), their only new signing of the summer to start the game, and there was a second chance f or John Stones, who really impressed at cent c e n t re - h a l f . B e n j a mi n M Mendy did well at leftb back too.
All the talk this summer has been about a rebuild, a about the need for a com complete overhaul, and yet the City line-up had a very familiar look about it. Maybe Guardiola, despite a disappointing campaign, is putting his faith in the same players who were a distant second to Liverpool last term.
Incredibly, City l ost nine games l ast season, two of which were against Wolves, and you felt this was a big night for them, a night when they had something to prove.
And they did just that, even if that Jimenez header, after an impudent bit of skill from Podence that saw him nutmeg De Bruyne, gave them jitters.
You can never expect a trip to Molineux to be easy and yet City made it look just that at times in the first half when they
were simply on a different level.
If this is how City perform after a disjointed pre-season, imagine what they will be like when they get up to speed.
Wolves in the f irst half looked a team still finding their way and Brazilian new boy Marcal did not even last 10 minutes before limping off injured.
City did not need asking twice. Foden’s inviting pass down the line found De Bruyne on the right edge of the penalty area. Romain Saiss came across and made a reckless, lunging sliding tackle to concede a ridiculous penalty. Inevitably, De Bruyne smashed it home.
City made it 2-0 after 32 minutes when De Bruyne linked up well with Sterling who then pulled the ball back for Foden (right) to slot home from close range.
De Bruyne glided across the pitch and looked magnificent throughout. He was denied a second goal by a smart Rui Patricio save but City looked in cruise control.
Wolves came back into it in the second half as Ruben
Neves, Podence and Jimenez all went clo se but City had chances to extend their lead. They seemed to think 2-0 was enough.
Wolves then set up a grandstand finish when Podence put over a cross and Jimenez f lashed home a header, but they couldn’t grab a leveller.
Gabriel Jesus wrapped up the points for City in the last minute of stoppage time, courtesy of a deflection off Conor Coady.
That made it 44 top-flight goals over the weekend, a record for the Premier League