Pep Guardiola called for Manchester City’s squad to be reduced after his team opened the Premier League season with a 4-0 win at Wolves.
Erling Haaland scored twice, while Tijjani Reijnders and Rayan Cherki marked their league debuts with goals at Molineux.
New signings shine in opening win
Haaland opened the scoring after Reijnders beat two players and released Rico Lewis to cross.
Reijnders added the second three minutes later, then created Haaland’s next goal after exchanging passes with Oscar Bobb.
Cherki completed the victory in the 81st minute. James Trafford also started in goal because Ederson was ill.
Guardiola says squad is too large
Guardiola said he valued depth but did not want senior players regularly left at home.
He believed that situation would damage the atmosphere and prevent everyone from feeling they could contribute.
City had already sold James McAtee to Nottingham Forest and loaned Jack Grealish to Everton, but more departures remained possible before the window closed.
Wolves punished for every mistake
Marshall Munetsi had an early header disallowed, while Jorgen Strand Larsen threatened twice after half-time.
Vitor Pereira argued that the 4-0 score did not reflect the whole contest because Wolves had created chances and played with courage.
City’s quality decided it. Every major Wolves error produced a goal, while the champions began another campaign with both a statement win and unresolved decisions about the size of their squad.
