Tijjani Reijnders is slowly alleviating Haaland's longing.

WOLVERHAMPTON, SATURDAY — Manchester City's star striker Erling Haaland does not need to dwell on missing his former teammate, Kevin De Bruyne. In the first match of the Premier League without De Bruyne, City immediately found new hope in the form of the Dutch national team midfielder, Tijjani Reijnders.

Many have doubts about Reijnders due to his background in the Italian League. There are concerns that he may struggle to adapt to the English League, which is known for its "hard," fast, and highly competitive style of play. However, one should never underestimate manager Pep Guardiola's assessment of a player. This has been proven once again through Reijnders.

The 27-year-old midfielder immediately stole the spotlight on his Premier League debut, as City thrashed Wolverhampton Wanderers 4-0 at Molineux Stadium on Sunday (August 17, 2025) early morning WIB. Reijnders, with a goal and an assist, was the standout performer, surpassing Haaland, who scored a brace.

Haaland may have scored a pair of goals, but they were all thanks to Reijnders' contribution. The former AC Milan player was involved in the Citizens' first three goals. Reijnders demonstrated himself as a top-notch box-to-box midfielder with his excellent range, ability to read space, movement off the ball, and expert finishing.

“(His performance) is very good. He is a pleasant and influential figure since the first day of his arrival. He can help the team defend with his speed and run into gaps (in the opponent's defense). He is outstanding at Milan and the national team. We know he will be a great signing for City,” praised Guardiola.

City initially struggled to break through the low defense block of the home team in the first half hour. Suddenly, Reijnders executed a dribbling move that successfully deceived three opposing players at once. He chipped the ball into the penalty area. The ball fell to the feet of winger Oscar Bobb, who then provided an assist to Haaland.

Three minutes after the opening goal, in the 37th minute, Reijnders was in action again. This time, he became the executor in a transition situation during a counterattack by City, capitalizing on a mistake by a Wolves player in the midfield. Interestingly, Reijnders finished the opportunity with a single touch using his weaker foot, which is his left foot.

The brother of the Indonesian national team player, Eliano, showcased an even more impressive performance in the third goal after halftime. He executed a passing combination with Bobb on the wing. Upon spotting an opening, Reinders immediately sprinted into the penalty area. He feigned a shot, then delivered a sweet assist to Haaland.

Reijnders was also able to fill the gap left by the anchor midfielder Rodri very well. He, along with Nico Gonzales, served as the last line of defense for the four parallel defenders of the visiting team. They played the role of a double pivot in the 4-2-3-1 formation. Meanwhile, Wolves were unable to record any significant chances throughout the 90 minutes.

One of the most noticeable positives of Reijnders' presence is the team chemistry. The smiling man creates a warm atmosphere in the City squad. Every goal celebration, he is always greeted by his teammates. Haaland in particular, who immediately runs to hug him with a beaming face after scoring.

The continuation of the combination between Haaland and Reijnders is worth anticipating. It is not impossible for Haaland to repeat the beautiful story he had with De Bruyne. "Haaland has always been a target that can be reached. He is always ready to score. When the ball is at his feet, I know he will score," said Reijnders about his readiness to facilitate the striker.

Guardiola should have been able to sleep soundly after the match. In addition to Reijnders, other debuting players also performed optimally at Molineux. Goalkeeper James Trafford was very agile in anticipating threats throughout the 90 minutes. Wing-back Rayan Ait-Nouri appeared calm, not nervous even when facing his former team.

Substitute player, Rayan Cherki, immediately contributed a goal in his league debut just under ten minutes after coming on. The French national team player sealed the victory for the visiting team with a precise shot from outside the penalty area. Cherki and Reijnders were brought in to support the plan for rejuvenating City's midfield.

In the new season, Guardiola feels a positive and competitive atmosphere. "The fresh energy this season feels similar to when I first arrived at the club (2016). We also have many players who have recently transferred, such as Bernardo Silva and Kyle Walker. Now we just need to maintain the momentum and become more consistent," he stated.

On the other hand, Wolves are still struggling to compete at the highest level. They seem to have yet to find replacements for key players from last season, such as Ait-Nouri and striker Matheus Cunha, who moved to Manchester United. The attacking line of Wolves, led by striker Jorgen Strand Larsen, lacks sharpness.

"Yes, the club knows we still need at least three quality players to add something to this squad. This league is very difficult and we need more solutions. This is the right time to seek solutions. We need help and I hope the club will listen," explained Wolves coach Vitor Pereira. (AP/REUTERS)