Last weekend footage of a Sheffield United supporter engrossed in a book at 7-0 down went viral and before kick-off here a fan was turning the pages of a title called Best New Horror. For Pep Guardiola, observing events from the directors’ box because of a one-match touchline ban, it was probably something close to that as Manchester City suffered a shock defeat at Wolves, their flawless start to defending their crown coming to an abrupt end. The only reading material Guardiola is likely to consume before switching his focus to Wednesday’s Champions League trip to Leipzig is his staff’s analysis of why things unravelled.
A couple of minutes before kick-off Guardiola took his position in the front row of the executive area, sandwiched between Manel Estiarte, City’s head of player support, and Txiki Begiristain, their director of football. It was there where Guardiola clenched both fists when Julián Álvarez pulled City level with a stunning free-kick, whipped into the top corner. José Sá, the Wolves goalkeeper, got his right hand to it but was powerless to prevent the ball spinning in. Wolves led inside 13 minutes via a Rúben Dias own goal and Guardiola looked on sternly when the hosts regained the lead midway through the second half through Hwang Hee-chan. Kyle Walker tried in vain to head the ball clear on the goalline.
