Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola appeared in a press statement after the 4-0 victory over Wolverhampton in the first round of the Premier League competition.

The coach said: "The first half was good, but the second was not. This is normal at this stage of the season, but they were better. Our preparation was short. We always face difficulties here; two years ago we lost, and last season we won with a late goal from John Stones. It is always a tough match, so I am very happy with the result."

He added: "We started with a good rhythm and scored two goals, which helped us a lot; the tempo and rhythm from the start were excellent."

Regarding Tijjani Reijnders: "He has been fantastic since day one. A special player with great speed that helps him in recovering and getting between the lines. He was exceptional at Milan and with his national team, and we knew he would be a big signing for City in the coming years."

On Ryan Cherki: "His quality in the final third is very special; he possesses great creativity and the pace we need. In many matches, opponents close down spaces, so we need players with exceptional quality to make a difference, and Cherki has that pure talent."

He continued: "We have players who have created a legacy like [Manuel] Akanji, [Nathan] Aké, and [Ilkay] Gündoğan, but of course, there have been changes after last season with many injuries and issues. Now we have new energy similar to the beginning of my journey with the club when Kyle Walker, Leroy Sané, and Bernardo Silva joined us, and they were fantastic. The club always needs to renew its blood for the future and continuity."

He concluded about James Trafford: "His story is beautiful; he graduated from the academy while still young. He had a great match with remarkable saves and a strong presence in goal. He did an amazing job at Burnley with Vincent Kompany, and in the end, the club decided to bring him back. I am sure he will sleep well tonight."