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.<\/p>\n
City boss Pep Guardiola said his side\u00a0failed to properly execute their \u201cprocess\u201d and was only too keen to laud Wolves\u2019 performance\u00a0after his side\u2019s 100 per cent start to their Premier League title defence ended with a 2-1 loss at Molineux.<\/p>\n
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 \u2013 who had been referred to prior to the match as \u201cthe Korean player\u201d by Guardiola \u2013 eight minutes after an early Ruben Dias\u00a0own goal was nullified by Julian Alvarez\u2019s free-kick.<\/p>\n
City boss Guardiola, compelled to watch from the stands due to serving a one-match ban for picking up three yellow cards, said: \u201cCongratulations Wolves, they defended really well.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe had our moments. We didn\u2019t do properly our process, to attack (with) a little bit more fluidity and that\u2019s why we struggled a little bit.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd the transitions \u2013 [Pedro] Neto [who was key for the first goal] was better than us, so they beat us in that situation.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen they defend that well, [Mateo] Kovacic or Ruben has to attack central defenders of the opponents and we didn\u2019t do it, that was why it was more difficult.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe 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.<\/p>\n
\u201cToday some details didn\u2019t happen, because it\u2019s football, because the players, it happens, maybe I apply bad some decisions, I don\u2019t know.\u201d<\/p>\n
On having to watch from the stands, Guardiola said: \u201cThe view is perfect. The problem is when you are banned and you are in the hotel. But they allow you to be here\u2026in the Champions League it cannot happen.<\/p>\n
\u201cI spoke before the game, half-time and after the game. During the game you can be involved in something, but not much.\u201d<\/p>\n
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