The scenes at Molineux after Manchester City’s dramatic win were filled with jubilation. Twice, City’s bench had erupted onto the pitch—first to celebrate John Stones’ 95th-minute winner and again when the goal was confirmed after a VAR check.
At full-time, the City players huddled in their own box, embracing and celebrating their hard-fought victory. Pep Guardiola made his rounds, offering hugs to every player, as they soaked in the applause from their traveling fans. From the intensity of the celebrations, you’d think City had secured a trophy or sealed a major qualification.
However, the celebrations were short-lived. Even before the players had returned to the dressing room, Guardiola was already pulling Bernardo Silva aside for one of his trademark on-field tactical sessions, which seemed to frustrate the Portuguese midfielder. The mood in the tunnel quickly shifted back to “business as usual.”
While the post-match interviews were underway, a group of Portuguese-speaking players from both teams gathered outside the away dressing room. With 15 Portuguese or Brazilian players between the two squads, they congregated to dissect the game.
Wolves were understandably upset about Stones‘ winner, which had initially been ruled offside due to Bernardo Silva’s position but was later awarded following a VAR review. Despite the controversy, both teams seemed to accept the decision, likely because it was ultimately the correct call. One Wolves player was overheard lamenting, “These things always happen to us,” while speaking with a City player as they left the stadium.
Jack Grealish, speaking to reporters after the game, praised Wolves, saying: “They’re a top team. I don’t know how they’re at the bottom of the league. From what I’ve seen, they’ve been really good this season—just unlucky.” Indeed, “unlucky” seemed to sum up Wolves’ afternoon, as the post-match debate surrounding the goal wasn’t as contentious as first thought. Even Wolves manager Gary O’Neil didn’t blame the decision for their defeat, instead questioning how Stones was left unmarked at such a crucial moment.
As the dust settled, there was another key takeaway—City’s win had given them a three-point lead over Arsenal, who had suffered a shock loss to Bournemouth the day before. Yet both Guardiola and Grealish played down the significance of Arsenal’s slip-up. “No, we don’t think about them,” Grealish said. “If it was later in the season, maybe, but it’s October.”
Guardiola, who had publicly coached Bernardo Silva on the pitch post-match, echoed a similar sentiment. “It’s not just Arsenal. Liverpool, Chelsea—there are other top teams. All we want to do right now is focus on ourselves. Coming to these tough away grounds and scoring in the last minute—there’s no better feeling.”
Grealish pointed out that City must take it as a compliment when teams like Wolves set up with 11 men behind the ball to make life difficult. “It’s the only way we can take it,” he added. “A lot of teams are doing it now.”
While City’s defensive record this season has raised some eyebrows—they haven’t kept a clean sheet since the opening game and have conceded first in half of their eight Premier League matches—they remain unbeaten, and their resilience shows. Seven of the nine goals they’ve allowed came in the first half, but they always find a way to recover. Stones’ last-minute heroics have already earned City crucial points that keep them ahead of Arsenal.
As Grealish emphasized, City’s focus remains on themselves. Stones’ late goals have been vital, and while questions linger about the defense, the squad’s relentless mentality is undeniable. Social media posts from City’s players highlighted this “never-say-die” attitude, something their fans will surely appreciate. But as they left Molineux, the message was clear: on to the next challenge.
Former City player Tommy Doyle caught up with old teammates before heading home, and Carlos Forbs did the same. Meanwhile, Matheus Nunes, who faced boos from the Wolves crowd during his brief appearance, was spotted chatting with a former teammate after the game. He later posted on social media, showing himself cupping his ears to the home fans after Stones’ goal—a moment he seemed to enjoy more than most.
