After a disappointing defeat at Burnley on Saturday, Wolves provided the perfect preparation for Sunday’s FA Cup semi-final with Watford by coming from behind to win against Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side.
Following the match, the Wolves captain spoke about how his teammates were hoping to bounce back with a positive result against United to take that momentum into the trip to Wembley this weekend.
On beating United twice in two weeks
“It’s a brilliant result for the football club, it shows how far we’ve come in the Premier League this year, that we’ve improved the way we play, and to beat a club like Manchester United at any time is an unbelievable feeling.
“It was important we bounced back from Saturday because we weren’t good enough against Burnley and we knew we had a job on our hands tonight.
“Man United are a fantastic football club, with brilliant players, so we knew how we had to play, we’ve dug in, we’ve done it, and it’s a brilliant night again for this football club.
“They’re a fantastic team and are going to cause you problems. They’ve got some world class players and we needed to make sure we stuck together.
“It helps when you have a world class keeper in goal who can make great saves like Rui did tonight. He’s been fantastic for us all season and he’s shown again tonight why he’s so good.”
On Ashley Young’s red card
“When he got sent off I was going around telling the boys to become more focused as it becomes harder.
“People might think because they’ve got a man less that it becomes a little bit easier, but it doesn’t – they work more, they’re more in their shape, they’re more rigid and they’re harder to break down, but I thought the boys kept the ball well and we deserved the second goal in the end.”
On team spirit
“We speak about it all the time; how close we are as a group. We’re not the biggest of groups but we’re very close and we’ve always got that fighting spirit and we’ll never change that.
“I thought we played some good stuff at times, the first goal was I thought was outstanding; I know it was off a mistake from their boy, but Jota’s finished it brilliantly. It was a great goal, so it was important we bounced back, and we done that tonight.”
On Jota and Jimenez partnership
“They’re incredible footballers. It’s not just their goals and their assists it’s the way they hold the ball up.
“Jimenez is obviously a big lad, but Jota, the strength he’s got to hold people off, to spin people, to keep them away from the ball, and his ball control is absolutely sensational.
“To watch them in full flow is a real pleasure and we’re lucky to have them at this club.”
On momentum going into FA Cup semi-final
“We wanted to enjoy the week, but we didn’t start it well on Saturday, we didn’t play well, and we needed to make sure we bounced back tonight. That was the main message and we’ve done that.
“We’ve got a brilliant result in the Premier League and now everybody can start looking forward to Sunday, because I know people have been talking about it.”
