Hwang Hee-chan's Showstopper Stuns Manchester City and Catches Guardiola's Eye
Hwang Hee-chan's Showstopper Stuns Manchester City and Catches Guardiola's Eye
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| Hwang Hee-Chan of Wolverhampton Wanderers and Phil Foden of Manchester City during the Premier League match between Wolverhampton Wanderers and Manchester City at Molineux on September 30, 2023 in Wolverhampton, England(Image-Getty) |
During the build-up to Saturday's Premier League clash at Molineux, Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola had a momentary lapse when he forgot to mention Hwang Hee-chan among Wolverhampton Wanderers' key players. However, Hwang's impactful performance ensured that Guardiola won't be overlooking him again.
In a surprising turn of events, the South Korean international winger scored the decisive second-half goal that brought an end to champions Manchester City's flawless start to the season with a 2-1 upset victory.
Guardiola's Friday press conference remarks included praise for Wolves' individual talents, especially in their attacking lineup featuring Pedro Neto, Matheus Cunha, and, as he put it, "the Korean guy." While the omission of Hwang's name did not go unnoticed, Wolves made sure to highlight it when he found the back of the net. The club posted his picture on social media with the caption "The Korean Guy."
Guardiola, though watching the match from the stands due to a bench ban, could take solace in the fact that his assessment was indeed on point. The early stages of the game saw Neto's cross deflected into the net by Ruben Dias for an own goal in the 13th minute. Hwang's moment came in the 66th minute when Matheus Cunha provided the crucial assist that led to his goal.
Wolves manager Gary O'Neil spoke highly of his team's preparations and execution, stating, "We needed to find a way to be solid and have enough attacking players to carry us up the pitch. We prepped for the game really well." He added, "Beating the best team in the world, and possibly ever, is a massive result for us."
The victory marked a significant moment for Wolverhampton Wanderers and served as a reminder of their potential, while also highlighting the impact of Hwang Hee-chan on the Premier League stage.
