The Manchester City 2025/26 season has started with high expectations as Pep Guardiola looks to rebuild and strengthen his squad. In the opening match, City defeated Wolverhampton Wanderers 4-0, showcasing strong attacking play and promising new signings. Fans are eager to see if the team can sustain this form throughout the season.
Guardiola Calls for Patience
Despite the dominant performance, Guardiola warned that a single win does not indicate a season-long resurgence. He referenced last season’s strong start against Chelsea (2-0 win) and reminded that early results do not guarantee future success.
“The start is a good result, (but) no more than last season. Last season also, we started with hunger and energy. So many, many points are still to play for,” Guardiola said.
Squad Changes and Absences
City are playing their first season in a decade without Kevin De Bruyne. Rodri is sidelined with injury, Jack Grealish joined Everton on loan, and goalkeeper Ederson missed the opening match due to illness.
Manchester City 4-0 Wolverhampton Wanderers – Match Stats
| Stat | Manchester City | Wolverhampton Wanderers |
|---|---|---|
| Possession | 68% | 32% |
| Shots (On Target) | 14 (8) | 5 (2) |
| Corners | 7 | 3 |
| Fouls | 9 | 12 |
| Yellow Cards | 1 | 2 |
| Red Cards | 0 | 0 |
| Pass Accuracy | 91% | 78% |
| Offsides | 2 | 1 |
| Saves | 1 | 6 |
| Goals | 4 | 0 |
Key Highlights:
- Tijjani Reijnders and Rayan Cherki scored for City.
- James Trafford kept a clean sheet in goal.
- Wolverhampton struggled to create chances with only 2 shots on target.
Summer Signings Shine
Guardiola praised the club’s summer signings. Tijjani Reijnders and Rayan Cherki scored in the opening match, while new goalkeeper James Trafford kept a clean sheet.
“Tijjani is an exceptional player, one of the best from Serie A. The new players have come and we’ve got a bigger squad, so we’ll have to see what happens,” he said.
Squad Management Concerns
With a large squad, Guardiola emphasized the importance of maintaining team morale.
“Too many people… 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,” he added.
The manager noted that discussions with players and agents are expected in the coming weeks to balance the squad effectively.
