A 66th-minute finish by Hwang Hee-chan, after an early Ruben Dias own goal had been cancelled out by Julian Alvarez, consigned Manchester City to a defeat hardly expected by anyone.
City boss Pep Guardiola said his side failed to properly execute their “process” and was only too keen to laud Wolves’ performance after his side’s 100 per cent start to their Premier League title defence ended with a 2-1 loss at Molineux.
City had gone into the contest intent on making it seven league victories at the start of a campaign for the first time. However, the treble-winners were condemned to defeat by a 66th-minute finish, courtesy of Hwang Hee-chan – who had been referred to prior to the match as “the Korean player” by Guardiola – eight minutes after an early Ruben Dias own goal was nullified by Julian Alvarez’s free-kick.
City boss Guardiola, compelled to watch from the stands due to serving a one-match ban for picking up three yellow cards, said: “Congratulations Wolves, they defended really well.
“We had our moments. We didn’t do properly our process, to attack (with) a little bit more fluidity and that’s why we struggled a little bit.
“And the transitions – [Pedro] Neto [who was key for the first goal] was better than us, so they beat us in that situation.
“When they defend that well, [Mateo] Kovacic or Ruben has to attack central defenders of the opponents and we didn’t do it, that was why it was more difficult.
“The opponent played really good, defended really well, and after, when they contact with the players up front, they had the ability to keep it and drive and dribble and drop you. They are so strong.
“Today some details didn’t happen, because it’s football, because the players, it happens, maybe I apply bad some decisions, I don’t know.”
On having to watch from the stands, Guardiola said: “The view is perfect. The problem is when you are banned and you are in the hotel. But they allow you to be here…in the Champions League it cannot happen.
“I spoke before the game, half-time and after the game. During the game you can be involved in something, but not much.”