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Manchester Evening News
Manchester Evening News
Sport
Charlotte Duncker

Pep Guardiola might have already solved two more of Man City's problems

Rodri

After what is probably best described as a rusty debut against West Ham in Nanjing, City's record signing started to show glimmers of why the club have brought him in to replace Fernandinho.

Starting as City's deepest lying midfielder, all of the play went through the 23-year-old during the hour he played and he looked as composed on the ball defending as he did going forward.

A misplaced pass to Leroy Sane that went out for a Wolves throw in the first half shows there's still work to be done but it was an assured show by the former Atletico Madrid man.

Pep Guardiola will have plenty of advice for the midfielder on how to improve and made a point of going on the pitch to instruct his summer signing during a break in play in the first half. But, on Rodri's showing against Wolves he's got a good base to build on.

Kevin de Bruyne

With the captaincy decision looming, it looks as though it's going to be a split decision between De Bruyne and David Silva. The Belgium international was asked about taking the armband after the win against West Ham in Nanjing on Wednesday and led the team out against Wolves in Shanghai with Silva on the bench.

The 28-year-old led by example in the clash and during a break in play while the Wolves goalkeeper Rui Patricio was down with an injury it was the Belgium that Guardiola pulled to deliver his messages to the rest of the squad.

Silva replaced De Bruyne as captain in the second half with the Belgium watching from the sidelines but it was another promising audition to be given Vincent Kompany's role on a permanent basis.

Youngsters continue to impress

Guardiola went for experience over youth in his second starting XI of the tour. While the first selection against West Ham was made up of a 50/50 mix it was only Adrian Bernabe and Ian Poveda who were given their second starts of the tour against Wolves.

The two teenagers fitted in seamlessly with their more experienced teammates with Bernabe setting up Raheem Sterling in the opening minute of the game.

Poveda wasn't afraid to take players on and caused problems for Wolves down the wing, a teenager not lacking in confidence.

Taylor Harwood-Bellis and Lukas Nmecha were given more minutes in the second half and Guardiola handed 17-year-old Ben Knight his debut making it another good night for the youngsters on tour.

A good test

It was another good test for Guardiola's side as temperatures were over 30 degrees in the Hongkou Football Stadium in Shanghai. Battling jet lag and the humid sticky conditions City pressed Wolves high up the pitch and showed no signs of fatigue as they lifted the Premier League Asia Trophy.

The intensity dropped off in the second as Guardiola made nine changes to his starting XI but it was another good opportunity for 20 players to be tested in sweltering conditions.

City's next pre-season test comes against Kitchee SC in Hong Kong on Wednesday.

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