Pep Guardiola has praised his Manchester City team for preventing Wolverhampton Wanderers from running riot at The Etihad last night.
Pep Guardiola said: “The second half, before the 1-1, was our best minutes in terms of creating chances. In the first half they played 5-4-1 with two players on the sides – (Nelson) Semedo and Neto – who didn’t jump. In the second half they jumped more so we found the players in the positions and created clear chances. After 1-1 we were a little bit shocked but if you analyse five minutes Wolves were good, OK. But if you analyse 95 minutes, except seven or eight minutes, we were better. We were better and I know how tough it is against Wolves. Wolves are one of the toughest opponents we’ve faced in three or four years because they are so good at doing what they do. That’s why we were patient. They look for you to lose patience and punish you. You cannot afford to lose patience against that team.”
Guardiola’s team were punished twice last season as Wolves completed the double with 2-0 and 3-2 successes. But City have got to grips with Wolves this campaign and extended their remarkable winning streak to 21 matches across all competitions last night.
Pep Guardiola added: “Don’t let them run, especially this team. They are masters, they are genius and well organised to run. They have players to make 40 or 50 metres with the ball. They are so different. Neto is an incredible player and Adama as well. This team, when you let them run, they kill you. The pace, with Semedo from behind, but especially from Adama and Neto. We created incredible chances before the 1-1 and the players felt, ‘Oh my god, we’re playing so well and the first shot on target is a goal’. But it’s a good lesson if you look at the stages because the opponents of a high level, with good players up front, don’t need much to punish you.”
