Gabriel Jesus scored two late goals as Manchester City beat WolvesPep Guardiola believes Manchester City have “come through hell and done something more than remarkable” by overcoming a tough winter schedule to extend their winning run to 21 games in all competitions by beating Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Their 4-1 victory courtesy of three goals inside the final 10 minutes means City have not dropped points in the league since drawing with West Bromwich Albion on 15 December and are now 15 points clear at the top of the table.
During that time they have played 21 games in all competitions, reached the final of the League Cup, the quarter-finals of the FA Cup and taken control of their last-16 Champions League tie against Borussia Monchengladbach.
“In winter time in England it’s hell and in that time we did something incredible,” Guardiola told BBC Radio 5 Live Sport. “It’s more than remarkable.
“The players have all my compliments but Liverpool have the crown. To win the Premier League we need those points.”
An unlikely second-half equaliser from Conor Coady – cancelling out Leander Dendoncker’s first-half own goal – had threatened to thwart City’s pursuit of a 15th consecutive Premier League win.
In what was an otherwise one-side encounter, Coady’s 61st-minute header – his first Premier League goal and his team’s first touch in their opponents’ penalty area – gave the visitors hope of earning at least a point.
However, Gabriel Jesus put City back in front at Etihad Stadium with a shot on the turn from Kyle Walker’s deflected cross.
With Wolves’ spirit broken, in-form Riyad Mahrez fired in his seventh league goal of the season before Brazil striker Jesus got his second with virtually the final kick as VAR ruled his effort onside.
The leaders face second-placed Manchester United on Sunday with the chance to move another step closer to the title.
“We have one or two days to rest and I realise how strong they are,” Guardiola said of United “It’s an incredible opportunity to make a huge step and we are going to try.”
Reaction to Manchester City’s win against WolvesMan City 4-1 Wolves: We never gave up – GuardiolaSlick City stroll on There were so many pre-game statistics that pointed to a 21st consecutive victory for the league leaders and they included one that dates back more than a decade.
Not since Peter Crouch scored Tottenham’s goal in May 2010 to earn victory in what was effectively a shootout for a Champions League place had City lost a midweek Premier League game.
Wolves boss Nuno Espirito Santo certainly recognised their threat and likely dominance, selecting a team with two right-backs and no striker.
It was a measure of Nuno’s caution that when Adama Traore was fouled at the start of the second-half and referee Chris Kavanagh played advantage as the ball ran on to Nelson Semedo, he complained because he knew there was more chance of joy from the set piece than open play.
The fact that after 28 minutes City midfielder Rodri had completed more passes than the entire Wolves team demonstrated the home side’s dominance.
One of those passes was important too, delivered over 40 yards from the centre of the pitch over the Wolves defence to the feet of Mahrez, whose cross led to the opening goal.
Dendoncker knew he had to go for the ball otherwise Raheem Sterling would have had a tap-in.
Coady’s equaliser was an unexpected setback for Guardiola’s side but as was the case with West Ham United on Saturday, Wolves were unable to cling on to a point as City equalled a club-record 28 games without defeat.
City have also equalled Arsenal’s Premier League record of 19 games without trailing at any point.
Man City 4-1 Wolves: We were punished by Man City – NunoPatricio’s defensive barrierThat Wolves got as late into the game with a chance of taking something from it was largely down to goalkeeper Rui Patricio.
In the seconds before half-time, the Portugal Euro 2016 winner produced a superb full-length save to turn away Bernardo Silva’s header.
The second period was then only minutes old when Patricio pushed a Kevin de Bruyne shot wide as it appeared certain to find the bottom corner. Then he blocked a powerful Jesus effort that was also heading in.
He earned the luck he enjoyed when Silva fired a rebound from his own effort over the bar and when Sterling’s blind back-flick at the near post fizzed just wide of the far post rather than just inside it.
In the end, not even the combination of Patricio and good fortune could save Wolves and there was to be no repeat of their victory last season.
“We must look at the game because we made a couple of mistakes under the pressure of City and they are very dangerous and they will punish you,” said Wolves boss Nuno.
“City are very talented; amazing players, amazing manager. All the other teams that come here find it difficult because they are a good opponent.”
Rui Patricio made a couple of big saves before Manchester City’s late flurryPortuguese players make history – the statsManchester City have won their last 21 games in all competitions, scoring 55 goals and conceding just eight. City are one of just three teams from the big-five European leagues (England, France, Germany, Italy, Spain) to record more than 20 consecutive victories, after Bayern Munich (23 in 2020) and Real Madrid (22 in 2014). Riyad Mahrez has been directly involved in 30 goals in 38 starts in all competitions for Man City at the Etihad (15 goals, 15 assists). Only Conor Coady (three) has scored more own-goals for Wolves in the Premier League than Leander Dendoncker (two).There were more Portuguese players starting Tuesday’s match between Manchester City and Wolves (eight) than in any other Premier League game in history.Manchester City have made more changes to their starting XI than any other any side in the Premier League this season (79).What next?Manchester City’s next game is at home to Manchester United in the Premier League at Etihad Stadium on Sunday, 7 March (16:30 GMT). Wolves are in action at Aston Villa on Saturday, 6 March (17:30 GMT).
Player of the match
MahrezRiyad Mahrez
with an average of 7.58
Manchester CitySquad number26Player nameMahrez
Squad number9Player nameGabriel Jesus
Squad number7Player nameSterling
Squad number3Player nameRúben Dias
Squad number27Player nameJoão Cancelo
Squad number17Player nameDe Bruyne
Squad number20Player nameBernardo Silva
Squad number2Player nameWalker
Squad number14Player nameLaporte
Squad number8Player nameGündogan
Squad number16Player nameRodri
Squad number31Player nameEderson
Wolverhampton WanderersSquad number11Player nameRui Patrício
Squad number16Player nameCoady
Squad number8Player nameRúben Neves
Squad number28Player nameJoão Moutinho
Squad number27Player nameSaïss
Squad number37Player nameTraoré
Squad number7Player namePedro Neto
Squad number19Player nameJonny
Squad number22Player nameNélson Semedo
Squad number32Player nameDendoncker
Squad number2Player nameHoever
Squad number17Player nameFábio Silva
Squad number54Player nameOtasowie
Line-upsMan CityFormation 4-3-3
31Ederson
2Walker3Rúben Dias14Laporte27Cancelo
20Bernardo Silva16Rodri17De Bruyne
26Mahrez9Gabriel Jesus7Sterling
31Ederson2Walker3Rúben Dias14Laporte27Cancelo20Bernardo SilvaSubstituted forGündoganat 82’minutes16Rodri17De Bruyne26Mahrez9Gabriel Jesus7SterlingSubstitutes5Stones8Gündogan10Agüero11Zinchenko13Steffen21Torres25Fernandinho47Foden50GarcíaWolvesFormation 3-4-2-1
11Rui Patrício
32Dendoncker16Coady27Saïss
2Hoever8Neves28João Moutinho19Castro Otto
22Nélson Semedo7Neto
37Traoré
11Rui Patrício32Dendoncker16Coady27Saïss2Hoever8NevesSubstituted forOtasowieat 90’minutes28João Moutinho19Castro OttoSubstituted forFábio Silvaat 56’minutes22Nélson Semedo7NetoBooked at 71mins37TraoréSubstitutes3Aït-Nouri12Da Silva15Boly17Fábio Silva18Gibbs-White20Vitinha21Ruddy49Kilman54OtasowieLive TextMatch ends, Manchester City 4, Wolverhampton Wanderers 1.
Second Half ends, Manchester City 4, Wolverhampton Wanderers 1.
VAR Decision: Goal Manchester City 4-1 Wolverhampton Wanderers (Gabriel Jesus).
Goal! Manchester City 4, Wolverhampton Wanderers 1. Gabriel Jesus (Manchester City) left footed shot from very close range to the centre of the goal.Goal awarded following VAR Review.
Attempt saved. Ilkay Gündogan (Manchester City) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Gabriel Jesus.
Foul by Gabriel Jesus (Manchester City).
Romain Saïss (Wolverhampton Wanderers) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Goal! Manchester City 3, Wolverhampton Wanderers 1. Riyad Mahrez (Manchester City) left footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom left corner.
Substitution, Wolverhampton Wanderers. Owen Otasowie replaces Rúben Neves.
Kyle Walker (Manchester City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Pedro Neto (Wolverhampton Wanderers).
Attempt missed. Leander Dendoncker (Wolverhampton Wanderers) header from the centre of the box is too high. Assisted by Pedro Neto with a cross following a corner.
Corner, Wolverhampton Wanderers. Conceded by Kyle Walker.
Foul by Gabriel Jesus (Manchester City).
Rúben Neves (Wolverhampton Wanderers) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Substitution, Manchester City. Ilkay Gündogan replaces Bernardo Silva.
Goal! Manchester City 2, Wolverhampton Wanderers 1. Gabriel Jesus (Manchester City) left footed shot from very close range to the bottom left corner.
Aymeric Laporte (Manchester City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Fábio Silva (Wolverhampton Wanderers).
Raheem Sterling (Manchester City) hits the right post with a right footed shot from outside the box. Assisted by Kevin De Bruyne following a corner.
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