The Spaniard had watched Wolves compete, but lose to Arsenal on Saturday evening, which underlined the task ahead for Lopetegui, who could already feel a special connection with the supporters of this one club city. Having received a warm welcome on the pitch pre-match, Lopetegui got his first live viewing of the squad he’s inherited and is now hungry to get to work during the World Cup break, to prepare Wolves for a big second part of the campaign.
On his welcome to Molineux
“It was a pity at the end of the match because I think we deserved more, and we need more in this moment. Before the match, of course, it was a great moment for me. When you can see the faces, for example, an old man with the passion of a child, for me, this is football. We are here to enjoy that, but we are here to change our direction and help these fans enjoy the team, and in the end make them happy – this is our first aim, we are going to work very hard to achieve.
“All the people need to be happy in the future. For that, in football, there’s only one way – victories. To win matches, you have to work very hard, to change some things, to believe in these players, to try to improve. I think we need new things too, but it’s not all around the new things.
“My dream is we have a lot of moments like this at the end of the match. The most important thing is at the end of the match we have this connection with the fans and in the end, they finish happy and go home happy with the team. Old people, young people, families, all the Wolves fans, we are here for that. We are going to work very, very hard to achieve in the end these goals.”
On his decision to join Wolves
“Why not? This is a big club, a big project, this is a big stadium. I have a bit of special history with the team because six or seven years ago I had the possibility to come here. In the last minute I changed my choice because the Spanish national team called me. One month ago, I had a personal problem with my father, but I think that they knew to wait for the right moment. They wanted me.
“My situation is fortunately better, with my father, and now I am here, but I am here because I believe in the project. I know that we have a hard task, but in the same way I think it’s an exciting task, and for us it’s a challenge. Now the players have ten days to recover the energy and confidence, and not think about the past. I think we have to think about the future and the future is day to day, working hard, and believing in our strengths.”
On feeling wanted
“They have showed a big respect for my personal situation, and after they wanted a lot for me to be here. I feel this respect, they insisted a lot, and now I am here, and I am very happy to be here. I am not thinking about the situation with the table, I know our situation. I think all the club know the situation, but I think at the same time, we have time to change this.
“It’s not going to be an easy task, but football and life is about being able to overcome difficulties and hard moments. My main task is to convince them that they are able to. The solution is not the coach, or the gaffer, the solution is themselves and in the dressing room.”
A new beginning 💛 pic.twitter.com/eZ5LQyTjJ7
— Wolves (@Wolves) November 13, 2022
On Wolves being a special club
“This is the one club of the city, and we have to feel that. Not only the dressing room, it’s about the environment, the energy of the fans. It’s going to be a hard task, but all together we can do it. I read the strength of the wolf is in the pack. We have to be a good pack and develop all our skills as a team. Football is collective. We have to understand that and show that.”
