FODEN OFF TO A FLIER
Guardiola’s stars start in style as they bid to get the crown back
PHIL FODEN put his international Covid blunder behind him to help get Manchester City’s domestic campaign off to a flier.
The young City midfielder, in hot water in Iceland when sent home in disgrace for partying with local girls after his England debut earlier this month, was on the scoresheet as Pep Guardiola’s men saw off Wolves.
His neat finish to convert Raheem Sterling’s assist continued his red- hot form on the field and was a sixth goal since lockdown.
Foden’s strike doubled City’s lead after the outstanding Kevin De Bruyne had put them ahead with a first- half penalty. Raul Jimenez got Wolves on the scoresheet, but Gabriel Jesus added a third to secure City’s points.
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 that 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 last the course in this season’s title race and put up a real fight this time.
De Bruyne was so impressive in midfield as he orchestrated the play that it often left you looking around just to check that City did not have an extra man or two on the pitch.
This was a statement of intent from Pep Guardiola’s men and the City boss himself looked even more pumped and intense on the touchline as he barked orders to his players before celebrating wildly when they scored.
There was a debut for Nathan Ake, their only new signing of the summer to start the game, and there were second chances for John Stones who really
impressed at centre half while Benjamin Mendy did well at left back.
All the talk this summer has been about a rebuild, they needed a complete overhaul and yet the line- up had a very familiar look about it and maybe Guardiola is putting his faith in the same players who were a distant second to Liverpool last season.
Incredibly, City lost nine games last season, two of which were against Wolves – both home and away – and you felt this was a big night for them in which they had something to prove. And City did just that.
They did have to survive late nerves when Raul Jimenez scored with a bullet header after 78 minutes which was reward for the way Wolves clawed themselves back into the game in the second half.
But you can never ever expect Wolves to be easy y and yet actually City made ade it look like that at times in the first half f when they were on a different level.
If this City y performance comes s after a disjointed prereseason, imagine what they will be like when en they get up to speed.
Wolves looked like a team still finding their way and Brazilian new boy Marcal did not even last 10 minutes before limping off injured. They looked rather disjointed, much to the frustration of their manager Nuno Espirito Santo, below. City did not need asking twice. Foden’s inviting pass down the line fou found De Bruyne on th the right edge of the p penalty area, R Romain Saiss came a across and made a re reckless tackle to con concede a ridiculous pena penalty. 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 back for Foden to slot home the easiest of chances from close range.
De Bruyne glided across the pitch, looked magnificent throughout and was denied another by Rui Patricio. City simply looked in cruise control.
Wolves came back into it in the second half as Ruben Neves, Daniel Podence and Jimenez all went close while City also had chances to extend their lead.
Wolves set up a grandstand finish when Podence put over a cross, Jimenez rose and flashed home a header, but City had the last laugh with another goal from Sterling in injury- time and it was a statement victory for the visitors.