MX23RW : Friday, April 26 19:26:16| >> :60:370:370:

Man City boss Pep Guardiola: "We lost to a good team"

Man City boss Pep Guardiola:
© Reuters
Two late goals from Adama Traore at the Etihad Stadium saw Wolves snatch an unlikely 2-0 win.

Pep Guardiola conceded his Manchester City side had a lot of points to make up after falling eight behind Premier League leaders Liverpool with a surprise loss to Wolves.

Two late goals from Adama Traore at the Etihad Stadium saw Wolves snatch an unlikely 2-0 win over the Premier League champions on Sunday.

The defeat was City's second of the season and leaves Liverpool with a significant lead after only eight games of the campaign.

View this post on Instagram

😧 ⁣ ⁣⁣ ⁣⁣#mancity

A post shared by Manchester City (@mancity) on

City manager Guardiola said: "It is a lot of points. They didn't drop points. From many circumstances they haven't dropped points.

"But when one team is eight points in front it is better not to think too much about that. It is better to think about what is next.

"It was a bad day, sometimes it happens. We started quite well and after we conceded, two situations in our build-up where it's impossible to defend, we got a little bit nervous.

"We controlled them better in the second half but at the end, with us attacking and people up front, we lost balls in positions where it is so difficult and they were clinical.

"Before that we hit the post we had actions but the way we played was not good. It was not a good day, we didn't play good."

City's defence had looked unsteady in the first half but Wolves spurned a handful of gilt-edged chances and it seemed they might pay the price as the hosts cranked up the pressure in the second half.

David Silva hit the woodwork from a free-kick but Wolves were resolute and pounced late on as Raul Jimenez twice teed up Traore for breakaway goals.

Guardiola said: "We lost to a good team that were really well organised, good physicality, strong in the air and so fast on the counter-attack."

City were without playmaker Kevin De Bruyne and Benjamin Mendy was also ruled out prior to the game with a hamstring injury.

Joao Cancelo started at left-back but further chances were necessary at half-time.

Guardiola said: "Kyle Walker could not continue in the second half. Kyle had an infection in his stomach.

"In the last weeks he didn't train well. He lost a bit of weight and he made an incredible effort to play in that position.

Kyle Walker
Kyle Walker was substituted for Manchester City at the break (Martin Rickett/PA)

"But at half-time he said he did not feel good so we made the substitution."

Wolves' victory was only their second in the Premier League this season and came after a midweek Europa League trip to Turkey.

Manager Nuno Espirito Santo said: "I'm very proud. It was a very good performance – but more than the performance was the work the players did.

"It is very difficult to play against City because they are so good and move the ball so fast. It requires a lot of high-speed running. The boys worked very hard and that was good.

"I am happy and satisfied because this is how we work. For all the games – and we have had 17 already – we always compete under our own gameplan.

"Sometimes we perform better than other days but the motivation to compete is always there.

"This is what makes me more proud – having a fantastic group of players that want to grow and believe in the way we work. Now we have a challenge to sustain this level."

ID:374230: cacheID:374230:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:15711:
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Benjamin Mendy in action for Manchester City on September 1, 2018
Read Next:
Benjamin Mendy suffers fresh injury setback
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Arsenal34245582265677
2Manchester CityMan City33237380324876
3Liverpool34228475344174
4Aston Villa34206871502166
5Tottenham HotspurSpurs32186865491660
6Manchester UnitedMan Utd33165125150153
7Newcastle UnitedNewcastle331551369541550
8West Ham UnitedWest Ham34139125463-948
9Chelsea32138116157447
10Bournemouth34129134960-1145
11Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton331111115254-244
12Wolverhampton WanderersWolves34127154654-843
13Fulham34126165054-442
14Crystal Palace34109154456-1239
15Brentford3498175259-735
16Everton34118153648-1233
17Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest3479184260-1826
18Luton TownLuton3467214775-2825
19Burnley3458213769-3223
20Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd3437243392-5916


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!