Gary Lineker suggests Vitor Pereira made a big mistake in Wolves’ loss to Man City

Gary Lineker and Alan Shearer discussed Wolves’ 4-0 defeat to Man City, identifying one tactical decision that cost Vitor Pereira’s side.

Wolves were soundly defeated in their opening Premier League match of the season by a City onslaught that was on fire.

There were certainly disappointing performances from Wolves players over the weekend that made things difficult, but Lineker believes Wolves’ tactical setup made things too easy for the Manchester side.

Gary Lineker says Wolves made it too easy for Man City by pressing high

Wolves came out of the gates aggressively on Saturday, pressing from the front and looking particularly vibrant in the opening moments.

While such intent would seem commendable, Lineker believes it really aided City.
He stated, “I thought Wolves had a go; they played very high, which I believe suits Manchester City. The teams that fared well against them last season were those that sat and then attacked them on the transition, when they struggled. When Wolves are pressing, it is easy.”

City took advantage of Wolves’ vast setup, scoring four goals, including a brace from Erling Haaland.

Lineker wasn’t surprised that the Norwegian found success, remarking: “Haaland, when he sees a team play like that, probably licks his lips and thinks I’m in for a couple today, and that was the case.”

Wolves’ aggression didn’t pay off against Man City but that shouldn’t deter Vitor Pereira

It’s a difficult decision for Pereira, as fans would undoubtedly have objected to Wolves sitting in a low block and inviting pressure for 90 minutes.

Given their attacking pace and agility, a flurry of goals may have been expected.

It’s an exciting technique against less hazardous teams, but against a club of this caliber, it may be too risky.

Man City’s season opener is about as unappealing as it gets. The 4-0 scoreline is far from ideal, but it does not reflect the performance of Wolves.

Better defensive decision-making may have kept things closer, and the same tactical approach could produce very different results against a depleted Bournemouth side next weekend.