Wolves vs Man City LIVE: Premier League result and reaction as John Stones nets winner in late drama
Wolves 1-2 Man City: Pep Guardiola’s side move to the top of the table with stoppage time goal
Manchester City were rescued by John Stones whose late winner secured a 2-1 win on their travels to Wolves in the Premier League.
City dominated possession and looked to push the struggling Midlands side deep into their own half. From the start, Pep Guardiola’s team looked to take control, but they were hit on the break and surprisingly went behind in the seventh minute.
Huge Bueno switched the ball out to the right wing where Nelson Semedo brought it under control and swept up the pitch. He curled a lovely pass into the far side of the box and Jorgen Strand Larson was waiting for a tap-in.
Wolves then looked to dig in and limit the space for City’s free flowing forwards. They were limited to shots from range despite 218 touches in Wolves final third in the first half alone. One of those shots got through, Josko Gvardiol getting forward and lacing a curling right foot finish into the far top corner.
City threw attacking wave after attacking wave at the Wolves defence, boosted by second half substitutes Phil Foden and Jack Grealish but there was no way through until Stones met Foden’s corner kick and nodded home to win the defending champions all three points.
Relive updates from the Premier League clash below as Wolves host Man City:
What the managers have said
Ahead of the game, Guardiola insisted that “Wolves is my priority, and my players – how they come back from the international teams”.
“That is my only concern.
He added that “it is always tough” against Wolves –“they’ve got less points than they deserve”.
On his future, he added: “I said many times I didn’t take a decision already and when I take it, I will inform you 100 per cent.
“That’s why there is no news, and I don’t have to add anything else.”
The Catalan went on to say that “still I like coming here every morning to work, I love it”.
“Thinking about Wolves, and what are the messages that I have to tell them, the images I have to see, the training sessions I have to prepare – still I like it. And this is the main reason that I’m a manager.
“When I don’t feel this, it’s not just leaving Man City, I would not be a manager, I would not train, that’s for sure!”
Guardiola’s future
With the announcement of Begiristain’s departure, perhaps the most intriguing question surrounds the future of Guardiola himself.
The Spaniard was teammates with Begiristain at club level and worked with the former Barcelona winger during his time managing the Catalan club, with Begiristain influential in appointing Guardiola as Barca manager in 2008.
Begiristain later joined City as director of football and played a key part in bringing Guardiola to the club in 2016.
With Guardiola out of contract at the end of the summer, questions remain over his immediate future. Varuious reports have suggested that he could leave the club at the end of the season, though others suggest that Guardiola could be tempted to stay – perhaps out of defiance – depending on the outcome of the case against City’s 115 charges.
Guardiola’s eight seasons in charge of City is far longer than any of his other managerial tenures, having been at Barca between 2008 and 2012, and Bayern Munich between 2013 and 2016.
Pep Guardiola: Part of me will leave Man City when Txiki Begiristain goes
Pep Guardiola admits part of him will leave Manchester City next summer with the departure of sporting director Txiki Begiristain.
But the City manager maintains he has not made a decision about his own future, even though he admits an interest in international football.
Guardiola, winner of six Premier League titles and the Champions League in his eight years at the Etihad Stadium, is out of contract at the end of the season.
Pep Guardiola: Part of me will leave Man City when Txiki Begiristain goes
Begiristain will leave at the end of the season, when Guardiola is also out of contract.
I’m an emotional man: Pep Guardiola embarrassed by his touchline reactions
Pep Guardiola insists he is as passionate about football as ever – so much so he is sometimes embarrassed by his own touchline antics.
Manchester City’s inspirational boss often cuts a frenetic figure in the technical area, which he says comes from his emotional involvement in games and the club.
Despite recurring speculation over whether this might be his last season at the Etihad Stadium, he insists he has lost none of his drive and determination to succeed.
I’m an emotional man: Pep Guardiola embarrassed by his touchline reactions
Manchester City’s inspirational boss can sometimes cut a frenetic figure in the technical area.
Team news
Pep Guardiola has made three changes to the side that beat Fulham 3-2 last time out.
In defence, Manuel Akanji drops out for John Stones. In midfield, Phil Foden and Jack Grealish are replaced by Jeremy Doku – who scored against Fulham – and summer signing Savinho.
Team news
Wolves have made two changes to the side that lost 5-3 to Brentford before the international break.
In goal, Jose Sa replaces Sam Johnstone, while in defence, Santiago Bueno comes in and Carlos Forbs drops to the bench as Wolves move to a back five.
Line-ups
Wolves XI: Sa; Semedo, Bueno, Dawson, Toti, Ait-Nouri; Gomes, Lemina, Andre, Cunha, Strand Larsen.
Subs: Bentley, Doherty, Gomes, Doyle, Sarabia, Forbs, Bellegarde, Guedes, Lima.
City XI: Ederson; Lewis, Stones, Dias (C), Gvardiol, Kovacic, Gundogan, Bernardo, Savinho, Doku, Haaland
Subs: Ortega Moreno, Carson, Ake, Grealish, Akanji, Nunes, Foden, O’Reilly, McAtee
Team news
A reminder of the early team news for today. The line-ups should be announced in around five minutes...
Wolves forward Hwang Hee-chan misses out after injuring his ankle playing for South Korea joining Enso Gonzalez, Sasa Kalajdzic, Yerson Mosquera and Boubacar Traore on the sidelines.
Meanwhile, Manchester City are definitely without Kevin De Bruyne, Rodri and Oscar Bobb with the latter two long-term absentees.
Nathan Ake remains a doubt.
Pep Guardiola says he would advise on Man City successor when he eventually leaves the club
Pep Guardiola would be prepared to advise Manchester City when the club begin their search for his successor. City’s serial-winning manager is in the final year of his contract and speculation over his future is rife.
The Catalan insists he is yet to make a decision on whether or not he will extend his stay into a 10th season at the Etihad Stadium.
Yet when the time comes to depart, he would be willing to offer the club his thoughts on the person to take over, although he would not expect to help.
Pep Guardiola says he would advise on Man City successor
The Catalan insists he is yet to make a decision on whether or not he will extend his stay into a 10th season at the Etihad Stadium.
Head-to-head
The two sides have met a total of 130 times, with the first meeting dating back to 1899.
Overall, City have won 55, Wolves have won 50, and 25 matches have ended as draws.
Last season, Wolves won 2-1 at the Molineux before suffering a 5-1 defeat at the Etihad in early May.
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