'I disagree' - Pep Guardiola convinced about Man City 'solution' after Wolves win

Pep Guardiola insisted this was the way he wanted Manchester City to play against deep-lying defences after John Stones rescued a win for the team.

City went behind to an early goal and while Josko Gvardiol restored parity in the first half it looked like the Blues would have to settle for a point after a frustrating second half before Stones dramatically struck in the fifth minute of injury time. For all the difficulties in getting the win, Guardiola refuted the idea his team had been below their best as he praised the work done against 11 men in the penalty area.

"I’m sorry to disagree but I thought we played really really good," he said. "You can’t press because [goalkeeper Jose] Sa is long ball, we win the duel which is fine and then there’s 11 players on the penalty spot so breaking them down is so difficult.

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"I’d have loved to try and play and move forward and use the transitions, look what happened with [Pedro] Neto last season, but long balls to the striker are always so difficult to control and then the pace that they have and the physicality with [Mario] Lemina they are so strong and how aggressive with the ball and the wingers with how they play, they are really strong at crosses with Bueno, Dawson and Toti so three players on [Erling] Haaland.

"And then two or three players in front of him the space doesn’t exist. We were patience and making runs and crosses we have a lot of chances because we don’t have the tallest team to attack crosses. That’s why I have the opinion that it’s an excellent performance."

This was the second game in a row - albeit separated by a fortnight - where City have struggled and been close to dropping points. Fulham took the lead at the Etihad and caused the Blues plenty of problems through the game in a 3-2 defeat that could have ended differently.

Guardiola was not happy with the Fulham performance and spoke with the team about how he wanted them to play. Despite getting 'lucky' to beat Wolves, the manager insisted it was exactly how he had wanted them to approach it.

"We talk a lot these days about what defines us as a team, we go to the opponent, it doesn’t matter what happens, we go to the opponent and it doesn’t matter which area of the pitch it is, and in those terms today we were much, much better," he said. "But we have to adapt; Inter came and did the same, so we have to accept it.

"Teams play four in the back, (but) when they play against us they play five at the back, they have holding midfielders, not just close but holding hands with the central defenders. So what do you need? Josko [Gvardiol]. Actions from the wingers, good cross, good shot. Be good in the small spaces. Without that it’s difficult. Today we were close to drawing and in the end we were lucky to win the game.

"The solution is the way we played today. Basically it’s to stay a lot in the positions you have to be, this is really really important and not become crazy, otherwise they make transitions and after that they punish you — we were close to 0-2. Be patient and be patient, good actions from the wingers, making dribbles, good runs from the people in front.

"If one player has the ability to dribble in small spaces, shoot and score a goal. It’s the only way I think. The other option is to say, “Okay, you don’t come? I don’t come. We’ll stay with Eddy (Ederson)”, and then who decides to come? That will be so difficult for our spectators.

"Imagine Ruben (Dias) has the ball and says, ‘OkayI don’t attack’, stay there. What would happen? I don’t know what would happen but it would be a problem."