AliousWolverhampton Wanderers are riding a red-hot streak as they prepare to challenge Manchester City at the Etihad in what promises to be a pulsating Friday night Premier League clash on matchday 35.
Vítor Pereira’s revitalized Wolves are unrecognizable from the struggling outfit that narrowly lost to City in October. Back then, with Gary O’Neil at the helm, Wolves were languishing at the foot of the table with just a solitary point. Pep Guardiola’s men snatched a late winner at Molineux through John Stones—but this time, they’ll meet a Wolves side in peak form and under the guidance of a manager Guardiola knows all too well.
The history between Guardiola and Pereira runs deeper than their only head-to-head, when Barcelona toppled Porto in the 2011 UEFA Super Cup final. In 2014, the two tacticians shared a memorable tactical exchange that would leave a lasting impression on the Manchester City boss.
While observing Guardiola’s Bayern Munich side, Pereira spotted a vulnerability during transitional phases and boldly offered a solution over lunch—literally sketching out his tactical fix on a restaurant tablecloth. According to journalist David Novo, Guardiola was so intrigued that he spent the rest of the day experimenting with Pereira’s idea, later inviting him to observe Bayern’s training as he implemented the concept.
The moment made waves among Guardiola’s inner circle, with his assistant Manuel Estiarte remarking, “Pep was like a child with a new toy,” deeply immersed in Pereira’s vision.
That tactical exchange not only showcased Pereira’s footballing intellect but also helped shape some of Guardiola’s defensive structures going forward. Now, as fate would have it, Pereira is set to challenge the very system he helped influence.
The Wolves boss—whose recent impact has propelled his squad to become one of the most in-form teams in Europe—returns to the stage where his insight could either be validated or unravelled. He’s no longer an admirer in the background, but a competitor hunting his first win over the man he once impressed.
As Wolves chase a seventh consecutive victory, the looming question is whether Pereira’s past advice will serve as a weapon—or come back to haunt him under the Etihad lights.
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