Manchester City got their Premier League campaign off to the perfect start with a win away at Wolves.
A victory at Molineux was key for Pep Guardiola’s men, as it would banish any talk of last season, and the Manchester club enjoyed an easier time in the Midlands this year after City needed a late John Stones goal to earn all three points in this fixture last time around.
Erling Haaland looked back to his best with a brace, while Tijjani Reijnders impressed everyone on his debut.
Man City fans have also been praising Oscar Bobb, but one member of Guardiola’s squad may have gone under the radar on the opening weekend of the season.
James Trafford in action during Wolverhampton Wanderers v Manchester City.
Photo by James Gill – Danehouse/Getty Images
James Trafford praised for his role in Erling Haaland’s second goal
There has been a lot of talk around Man City’s goalkeepers over recent days, as Ederson looks set to leave the Manchester club for Galatasaray.
This could have distracted new signing James Trafford, but the Englishman showed exactly why the Premier League giants have brought the 22-year-old back to the Etihad Stadium.
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The City goalkeeper was calm throughout the clash at Molineux and produced saves whenever he was required to step up during the dominant display for Man City.
BBC pundit Chris Powell praised Trafford for his role in Man City’s third goal of the game, where he played a long ball out from the back, a similar action seen by Ederson throughout the years.
“It started with James Trafford – he was very calm,” Powell said on BBC Radio 5 Live. “Instead of playing short he played a pass over the pressure of Wolves.
“It was pulled back into Erling Haaland’s path, and there was only going to be one result.”
It remains to be seen if Trafford will be Guardiola’s number one throughout the 2025/26 campaign, but his debut has not harmed his chances.
Erling Haaland takes another step towards Man City’s all-time top goalscorer
Wolves are a team Haaland has loved playing in the past, and the Norwegian made his intentions clear for the season at Molineux by netting a brace.
The superstar striker has now scored 126 goals for Man City in all competitions, which moves him up to 12th in the Manchester club’s all-time goalscorers charts.
Having signed a contract at Man City until 2034, Haaland will have his eye on Sergio Aguero’s record, who tops the chart at the Etihad Stadium with 260 goals.
The 25-year-old is now 134 away from the Argentine, and if the Norwegian star can score 35 goals per season over the coming years, it would only take the striker around four campaigns to make history.