During the international break, Gary O’Neil diligently readied his Wolves team for the upcoming showdown against Manchester City.
After suffering a tough 5-3 defeat to Brentford, Gary O’Neil found himself under immense scrutiny, despite having the backing of the Wolves board. The last time O’Neil guided Wolves to a Premier League victory was back in April with a 2-1 triumph over Luton Town.
Subsequent to that win, a string of 10 winless matches and conceding a staggering 31 goals indicated that O’Neil’s tenure at Wanderers was tenuous at best.
The challenge only intensifies for O’Neil as his team is set to face Manchester City at Molineux next, who are unbeaten in their first seven Premier League matches.
With most of their key players fit and in form, Pep Guardiola’s side seems formidable. However, Guardiola has confirmed the absence of Kevin De Bruyne due to injury, along with Nathan Ake.
De Bruyne, a standout midfielder, has been sidelined with a groin injury since last month’s Champions League encounter. Guardiola confirmed that both De Bruyne and Ake will not be ready for the Wolves match in his pre-match press conference.
The absence of Rodri is another blow for City, as the midfielder suffered a season-ending ACL injury in a recent game against Arsenal. This loss could have significant implications for City’s title ambitions, as Rodri plays a crucial role in Guardiola’s system.
In the absence of Rodri, Wolves will look to exploit the vulnerabilities in City’s midfield and capitalize on quick transitions. With players like Carlos Forbs and Matheus Cunha showcasing their pace on the break, Wolves aim to catch City off guard and deliver a solid defensive performance, recalling their past success when they defeated City without Rodri in the lineup.
The Old Gold were completely discounted last Sunday, just as they were last season. However, they should harness that as motivation to clinch a massive victory.
