Manchester have begun their 2025/26 campaign in impressive fashion as Pep Guardiola’s men hammered Wolves 4-0 at Molineux.
After an underwhelming season last time around, this was the perfect result for the Manchester club, as it fends off any negative chat that may have carried over from the 2024/25 campaign.
Erling Haaland looked back to his best against Wolves as the Norwegian scored a brace, while Tijjani Reijnders was the star of the show in the Midlands.
Oscar Bobb also received praise from Man City fans, who would have also been pleased to see Rayan Cherki get on the scoresheet.
James Trafford did his chances of becoming Guardiola’s number one no harm, and despite many of City’s new stars shining on their debuts, one man deserves as much praise as anyone involved with the Manchester club.
Hugo Viana at a Manchester City game.
Photo by Jan Kruger – UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images
Man City’s win over Wolves showed the value of Hugo Viana
Hugo Viana has had the daunting task of having to take over from Txiki Begiristain as Man City’s Director of Football, and after being tasked to rebuild Guardiola’s squad this summer, the Wolves win highlighted how much of a success the current transfer window has been for the former Valencia star.
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Man City signed Reijnders as part of a £48m deal this summer, and the Dutch star has proven to be exactly what the Manchester club’s midfield needed, while Cherki was picked up for a bargain £34m, with the Frenchman doing more on his Premier League debut than Liverpool’s £116m man, Florian Wirtz.
The signing of Trafford for £31m was questioned by many; however, Viana’s move for the English goalkeeper was justified on Saturday afternoon, as the 22-year-old showed his quality between the sticks at Molineux.
The scary thing for the rest of the Premier League is that Viana may not be done. Man City could still sign Gianluigi Donnarumma from PSG before the transfer window shuts, while the arrival of Rodrygo from Real Madrid is still on the cards.
If Man City go on to have success this season, Viana will deserve a lot of the credit. Many deals were not easy for the Portuguese director to get done this summer, for example, offloading Jack Grealish, yet the 42-year-old did it.
The win at Wolves has made the work of Viana look very impressive, and although it is easy to get excited after a 4-0 win, the Man City Director of Football will only be truly judged once the campaign has concluded.
Joleon Lescott heaps praise on Tijjani Reijnders
Although Viana deserves a lot of credit, Reijnders was the star of the show against Wolves and may prove to be his best signing as the Dutch midfielder produced a goal and an assist on his debut.
Former Man City defender Joleon Lescott is already a fan of the 27-year-old and was full of praise for the former AC Milan star after the Wolves contest.
"Tijjani Reijnders marks his Premier League debut WITH A GOAL!" 🎙️
What a finish from Manchester City's new signing! pic.twitter.com/6HRi3jrIEQ
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) August 16, 2025
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“He didn’t waste any touches. He was very effective in his play, willing to run forward off the ball and can receive it on the back in tight areas,” Lescott said via the Premier League.
“A very solid debut. Top players want the responsibility and the pressure [of repeating this level of performance], he’ll want that.”
Big things can be expected of Reijnders throughout the 2025/26 campaign, and the Netherlands international may just be the key ingredient Guardiola needed to win back the Premier League.