filling the void left by a legend like Kevin De Bruyne is an almost impossible task. But in Manchester City's 4-0 win over Wolves in the 2025-2026 Premier League opener, Tijjani Reijnders' performance showed that he was at least ready to take on this challenge.
The match at Molineux brought a new look to coach Pep Guardiola's team, when both Rayan Ait-Nouri, James Trafford and Reijnders had their official debuts. Rayan Cherki even joined from the bench, further enhancing the list of expected new recruits at the Etihad.
However, no one has to face more pressure than Reijnders. He is considered a possible direct replacement for De Bruyne - the name that just ended his glorious 10-year journey at Man City. The Belgian midfielder has provided 119 assists in the Premier League, only behind Ryan Giggs in the competition's history.
Expectations that Reijnders can recreate the huge numbers that De Bruyne left behind are clearly unrealistic. He is also not the type of midfielder who tends to be creative and direct like his senior. However, Man City's open-minded role shows certain similarities between the two.
The win over Wolves was the clearest proof. Reijnders became an important link when most of the ball deployment went through his feet. The Dutch midfielder appeared completely comfortable when he dropped deep as a bridge - a role that has been associated with De Bruyne for many years.
Statistics show that only Ait-Nouri (96 times) and Nico Gonzalez (93) have had more touches than Reijnders (82) on the pitch. More importantly, he maintained a high safety level with an accuracy rate of up to 91.2%. These figures reflect a solid foundation for possession, while promising to open up a new development direction for Man City's playing style.
The highlight is that Reijnders made 22 passes in the final third of the pitch - the second most in the Man City squad. The accuracy rate of 91%, proving the midfielder's confident handling ability even in tight spaces.
Not only stopping at the role of a playmaker from the back, the Dutch midfielder also often pushed high after receiving the ball. He took on the No. 10 role in Guardiola's system, while maintaining balance in midfield.
If De Bruyne stands out with long passes and "ball-versing" situations, Reijnders bring a different weapon. That is the explosion in movement and the possibility of penetrating the central space. This could be a new feature Guardiola is looking for to enrich the flexibility of the attack.
That makes sense even more when recalling Guardiola's statement last season. He wants to build a style of play based on transitioning states. This is the future trend of English football, instead of pure possession style.
At Molineux, Reijnders clearly demonstrated that philosophy. He has "carried the ball" up to 17 times - moving at least 5m while controlling. This is the highest number of players who are not defenders in the Premier League opening round so far.
It was Reijnders' bold break that gave birth to the opening goal in the context of Man City being somewhat confused in the first minutes of the match.
In the 34th minute, the Dutch midfielder received the ball right on Wolves' field, as if he wanted to pass it to the sidelines but immediately cut through a series of players and rushed straight towards the goal.
After a somewhat lucky bounce, Reijnders still showed courage and determination, before launching a sharp pass into the penalty area. Rico Lewis perfectly provided and assisted Erling Haaland to easily tap the ball in, opening the score for Man City.
"It's really good. Reijnders is an adorable guy and has made an impression from the first day. With his speed, he can support the midfield.
He can run into space and sometimes create space that we allow the defender to create.
At AC Milan, he has performed excellently and is in the national team. We know he will be a top signing for Man City in the coming years" - Guardiola commented on his new student.
