A quality counter attack, finished off by Daniel Podence, earned Lopetegui three Molineux points for the first time, and from that point, his side battled hard to protect the clean sheet, and therefore points. While the Spaniard would have preferred a second goal, and more straightforward end to the game, he was delighted with the victory, which is one step on the “long ride” ahead of his group.
On relief with the victory
“They are three points we are fighting for them. I think in the last matches we deserved better scores, so today it was important we got three points. If we lost it would be the same, but we’re going to have in front of us a very hard and long ride. We have to arrive at the last minute to achieve our aim. It’s my vision for this season.
“They were three important points, but in the end only three points. We have not done anything at the moment, we have to continue. I liked the personality of the players.”
On creating chances
“In the first half, my opinion is we had the play, the ball, but it’s not easy to have chances against a strong team with a lot of players behind the ball. We tried, we had three or four crosses which were very dangerous, and we didn’t arrive to the box in time, and after in the second half in the first chance we scored.
“After, they pressed a lot, won a lot of second balls, and we were a little bit tired because we played three days ago, a very hard match against Nottingham Forest.”
His fifth of the season 🖐 pic.twitter.com/D6dwXcwzPp
— Wolves (@Wolves) January 14, 2023
On what pleased him most
“I’m pleased with their commitment, their effort, their character against a very good team. West Ham have incredible players and coach, we scored, and for the first time in the league we have a clean sheet, it’s very important to work with a clean sheet, especially in the Premier League, because all teams have big qualities.
“Clean sheets are very important of course, it’s the first step. Always looking at the opponents’ goal, but clean sheets are going to be key in the future for all teams, not only us.
“We have to continue, these are three points, we have played in four days two very hard matches, and they came here with six days, so it’s not easy for us, but the players have made a big effort today.”
On moving on quicky
“We have in front of us a very hard task and we have to focus on the future. Today, we are happy, we will have dinner with friends or family, and tomorrow we will be thinking about a very hard match in the replay with Liverpool.
“It’s important to win three points. The final table is in the last match, this is important. Today, three points. I haven’t seen the table, yesterday I didn’t look for the table, today I will not.”
On needing to kill games
“You have the will to win and in the second half we have to take advantage but didn’t score the second goal we deserved. That’s why in the 10, 15 minutes at the end, we suffered because they pushed a lot. They have two very good forwards, a lot of crosses we had to defend. But in the end three points and we have to continue.
“I think they have showed good character, good commitment, but sometimes you do the same and don’t win, this is football. That’s why we have to be balanced when we win and we don’t have to be very frustrated when we lose. It’s going to be a long and hard ride. We have to be able to arrive in the last minute with our aim. It’s the most important thing.”
