Manchester City thrashed Wolverhampton Wanderers 4-0 in their opening Premier League match at the Molineux on Saturday, August 16.
Erling Haaland scored a brace for the Cityzens, while new signings Tijjani Reijnders and Rayan Cherki scored a goal apiece in the resounding win.
Pep Guardiola’s men needed more than 30 minutes to break the deadlock, but once the floodgates were opened, there was no stopping them. The win will give City a much-needed boost after an unsatisfactory 2024/25 season.
Tijjani Reijnders Caught the Eye on His Debut
Reijnders was impressive for AC Milan during his stint with them and showed that he could score goals. He started as a No. 8 in Manchester City’s 4-2-3-1, with Nico Gonzalez playing as the defensive midfielder and Bernardo Silva as the other No. 8.
In Kevin De Bruyne’s absence, Guardiola’s team needed someone who could dictate terms in midfield. They needed a player who could carry the ball into the opposition’s penalty box and distribute it adroitly at the same time.
Reijnders proved to be that player for them on Saturday.
The Dutch midfielder’s run with the ball helped the Cityzens get their opening goal. Reijnders played the ball to Rico Lewis after running in and the latter played a cross to Haaland, who headed in.
Oscar Bobb, who played on the right flank, set up the Cityzens’ second goal from a counter-attack by playing it to a marauding Reijnders.
The Dutchman finished with a shot first time into the corner of the net to extend the visitors’ lead. He then registered an assist for Haaland in the second half to complete a wonderful day for himself.
Reijnders thus vindicated Guardiola’s faith in him.
However, there was a concern about Rayan Ait-Nouri, the left back of the Cityzens, who had some trouble dealing with Wolves’ attacks through the right flank. Ait-Nouri will have to improve his physicality to adjust to the fast pace of Premier League football.
Cherki was introduced in the second half and managed to score on his Premier League debut as well.
Haaland scored another to fire a warning to Manchester City’s opponents for the upcoming matches.
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What’s Next for City?
The Cityzens will have their first real test of the season next weekend, when they take on the Spurs at the Etihad Stadium.
Spurs won their first match 3-0 against Burnley on Saturday. However, Manchester City, who have won six of the last eight Premier League titles, are missing Rodri and Mateo Kovacic at the moment, whose inclusion in the near future will bolster their team further.
It will be a problem of plenty for Guardiola in the midfield, with a plethora of options to choose from. The likes of Phil Foden and Ilkay Gundogan will also be eager to prove a point whenever they are given a chance to play.
But, as of now, Reijnders is the man of the moment for Manchester City. Filling the gap created by De Bruyne’s departure is a Herculean task.
Still, Reijnders did enough in his debut match to ignite some hope in the minds of Manchester City supporters.
Main Photo
Credit: IMAGO / Action Plus
Recording Date: 16.08.2025