There is a new weapon in the Manchester City attacking armoury | OneFootball

Manchester City began the 25/26 Premier League season with a 4-nil win over Wolverhampton Wanderers at Molineux. There were plenty of positives for Pep Guardiola’s side to take from yesterday’s performance. Tijjani Reijnders put in a man-of-the-match performance in his Premier League debut. Oscar Bobb and John Stones showed they are over the injury issues that plagued them last season. Erling Haaland has hit the ground running as he bagged a brace to begin a new campaign.

As the second half of Manchester City’s win unfolded yesterday, there was a new weapon in Manchester City’s attacking arsenal that revealed itself. This Manchester City side is blessed with blistering pace on the counter. That is a weapon that Pep Guardiola wants to utilise more as the new season progresses.

Manchester City picked Wolves apart in the second half of yesterday’s match.

As the second half of yesterday’s match began, Pep Guardiola’s side was sitting on a 2-nil lead. Vitor Pereira’s side made a bright start to the second half as they got on the ball more and pinned City back. But this played into Manchester City’s hands. As Wolves had more possession and pressed forward, they left space in behind for City to break into. They utilised this to perfection in the 61st minute to make it 3-nil and put the game to bed.

How Manchester City’s third goal was constructed showed that there is now devastating pace and a direct threat to their opponents’ goal on the break. Oscar Bobb combined superbly with Tijjani Reijnders on the halfway line. The pair unlocked the Wolves’ defence before Bobb played in Reijnders. Reijnders played an exquisite ball back to Erling Haaland, who emphatically beat Jose Sà in the Wolves goal. The goal was beautiful to watch unfold, but it showed a new weapon in Manchester City’s attacking armoury.

Pep Guardiola’s side now has devastating pace on the break to go with their exceptional technical ability. Speaking after the game, the Manchester City manager said it was a weapon his team hoped to utilise more this season.

Pep Guardiola wants his team to attack quicker this season.

Speaking after his team’s win at Molineux, Pep Guardiola spoke of the pace that his team now has. He also revealed that it is an attribute he hopes to exploit more this season. Speaking of the threat his new look team now has, Guardiola said: “We punished them on transitions because we have incredible pace with Oscar [Bobb], Tijjani and Erling [Haaland].”

“It’s a weapon that we want to use this season to attack quicker than we did before, but for the first game, it’s always a little bit how will be the team. It is always a struggle here. I’m really pleased for that.”

The new look Manchester City squad looks to have a new weapon in its armoury. The pace of Erling Haaland, Oscar Bobb and Tijjani Reijnders was crucial to Manchester City’s third goal. When you consider the fact that there is Phil Foden, Omar Marmoush, Jeremy Doku and Rayan Cherki to add to Manchester City’s attacking mix the potential is there for Pep Guardiola’s side to rip teams apart if they are given the space to do so.