Joining Mikey Burrows was co-commentator and Wolves Hall of Fame full-back Andy Thompson, as the pair analysed the gold and black securing a come from behind victory over Everton at Goodison Park.
The duo also spoke about fighting for the points until the final minute, Lopetegui’s managerial style on the touchline and possible January additions to the squad.
On luck playing its part
Thompson said: “We did [get lucky], but Everton weren’t great either. We were watching two teams who are struggling for form, struggling for wins, and definitely struggling for performances, especially after what we’ve seen today.
“But I said I’d rather have the result than the performance today, and that is what we got. It wasn’t a great game, it wasn’t good to watch, and it was two teams who were struggling, but Wolves have gone out there and got themselves the victory.
“It’s lifted them off the bottom and has taken us up to 18th, so looking at the table now looks a lot more healthy than it did when we arrived here this afternoon.”
𝟵𝟬+𝟱' 🫡 pic.twitter.com/YNMnLHLMFK
— Wolves (@Wolves) December 26, 2022
On bringing Ait-Nouri on
Thompson said: “We probably wouldn’t [have won the game if Lopetegui didn’t change to a back five. By having him as a wing-back, he’s been able to push further on up the field and we just saw it there.
“It was a good finish, he got his foot around it after I thought he’d lost the opportunity to score it, but once again, he’s able to get his foot right and that’s two goals in a week, which is good for him.
“Hopefully he can score a lot more now.”
On fighting for every point
Thompson said: “At this stage of the season and at where we are, I don’t care about how we get over the line. All I’m bothered about is that we get results.
“It wasn’t a great game or great performances by the majority of the players out there, but what they’ve done is they’ve had the belief, there was a change in formation from the manager – do you put it down to a great tactical switch from him; possibly, he’s an experienced manager and he knows what to do, because without that, you’re left-back’s not up there scoring the winning goal if you leave the formation as it is, so give credit to the manager.
“But more than anything, you saw what this result means to the fans. They won’t be happy about not watching their Wolves play well, but they’ll be over the moon about the result. You saw what it meant to them and they’ll travel back a lot happier than they would have done if we’d lost the game or even drew the game.
“But we got the three points, we got what mattered to us and it’s a good start for Lopetegui in his reign as manager.”
We've got super Lopeteguiiiiiiii 🎶 pic.twitter.com/ceorkvcN3m
— Wolves (@Wolves) December 26, 2022
On Lopetegui’s management
Thompson said: “It takes a while to embed what you want to do as a manager onto your sides and you want to just get things right. It’s not going to be a quick fix in getting these players how he wants to play.
“He wants to make sure these players find out how his methods work. A lot of these players haven’t worked with him for the majority of the time because they’ve been away at the World Cup, but he’s an experienced manager and he’s passionate – which is great. That’s what I want to see from my manager, I don’t want to see someone standing there watching the game.
“He goes for every challenge, every pass, every tackle and it’s great to watch, but he’s got to get that passion onto the pitch with some of his players as well. But victories bread confidence.”
On a need for additions
Thompson said: “We’ve got some good players, and I’ve said that time and time again, but he [Lopetegui] needs somebody who he knows what he can do, somebody who he’s worked with before and the player knows what is expected from the manager.
“He’s got his centre-forward [in Chunha], we need a centre-back, but maybe another wide player. We’ve been linked to various players and maybe he’s looking at another right-back as well, but he’s got to bring quality in. Not just ability-wise, but mindset-wise too.
“Players who come in now have to have that mindset of winning, being able to go out there and perform in the Premier League and are a proven player at this level. I hope he’ll bring in two or three more players.
“No doubt about it, this manager wants to be successful. He’s got a pedigree of being successful, he’s managed massive clubs, and he won’t be settling for second best, and the players here have got to get on board with it because this manager will make sure he’s doing the best for them.”
A decade undefeated on Boxing Day 🥊 pic.twitter.com/CuCpEZvkCF
— Wolves (@Wolves) December 27, 2022
On a New Years Eve meeting with Man United
Thompson said: “It’s going to be a difficult task. Man United have started to find a bit of form and I know they won in mid-week in the League Cup, and it’s something they’re going to have to rise to.
“But we know the Wolves fans will get behind them, it’s just the players need to have that belief in themselves to win games – and I think they can. If they get on the front foot.
“They’re going to have some tough games coming up, they’ve got Man United, Liverpool, Man City – these are the games that you’ve got to get something out of. I still believe – if we’re playing on confidence and playing at the maximum of what we can do – we can give anybody a game in this league, but we need to have that confidence.”
You can watch Matchday Live Extra 45 minutes before every Wolves kick-off this season, on Twitter and on Wolves TV, before heading over to the Wolves App following full-time for all the post-match reaction.
