Wolves 1-3 Man City: Phil Foden on the scoresheet as City earn opening win

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 looks a team reenergised, 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 if 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 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 before Gabriel Jesus wrapped up the points for City.

But you can never expect Wolves to be easy and yet actually City made it look like that at times in the first half when they were on a different level. If this City performs comes after a disjointed pre-season, imagine what they will be like when they get up to speed.

Wolves looked a team still finding their way and Brazilian new boy Marcal did not even last ten minutes before limping off injured and they looked rather disjointed.

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. 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 and City 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.

But Wolves then set up a grandstand finish when Podence put over a cross, Jimenez rose and flashed home a header but City stood firm to get a big statement victory as Jesus provided the finishing touch.

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