Despite falling behind early on at Goodison Park on Boxing Day, Wolves responded and showed character in abundance to stun their hosts in injury time and claim a first away of the season. Daniel Podence and Rayan Ait-Nouri found the back of the net amidst a disciplined first league performance under the new head coach, who know believes the positive feeling can only benefit the group moving forward.
On a winning start
“We are very happy, of course. There aren’t secrets in football, it’s just to work hard, believe in yourself and in the end overcome a very good opponent. We have big problems, but in the same way, we have done good things. We have to improve a lot of things, but we are happy for today because we came here looking for three points and got them in the last minute. It’s a positive thing for us, to work tomorrow with a good face, but it’s finished.
“We changed things in the matches. We tried to find more space with very fast players. In the end, at the same time, it happened a lot because they’re closer to your box. We are happy because it finished well.”
On enjoying the character
“I am happy with the mentality of the players because they showed the match only finishes on the whistle. So, we have to believe and while working we have a hard task with and without the ball against all the teams in the Premier League. They have big strengths in a lot of situations, and I think we have fight at a good level and in some moments played good football.
“In the end it’s going to be good for our confidence, but it’s only one step. We have not done anything yet. We are happy, of course, we need good news. At the moments we are happy, but we have to enjoy today and tomorrow we’re going to think about Manchester United.”
A step in the right direction.
— Wolves (@Wolves) December 26, 2022
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On learning about the players
“It has been a very hard match for us. We started in a bad way, we suffered a lot at the first corner, but after I think we showed a good mentality. We had belief in ourselves, we continue working and trying to overcome the opponent. In the end, we scored one good goal. After, we had chances and them too, but in the end we had belief and three points which is our aim always.
“The most important players are inside. We have hard matches, the next Manchester United, and I want to put the focus on the players that are here now. We are going to be very happy to have one new player [Cunha], but for now I want to put the focus on my players.”
On handling Everton’s dangers
“Everton are a very strong team. They have a fantastic squad and a good coach. We always tried to do a very high press, with a high rhythm. I think that physically we were weaker than them, but we put our strengths in other ways. Compact, narrow, keeping the ball trying to make the pitch big. Then, I think at any moment we could dominate the game, but against a team like Everton it’s not easy.
“All wins are very important, but at the moment we need good news. It’s going to be good for our confidence, and we’ll continue to work hard. It’s only one step, three points.”
On building confidence
“We tried to convince them that they are able to do better. They have to believe. It’s important that have confidence. We have to improve. We have given our all in the training sessions and after we’ll see. It’s the only way I know.”
