Erling Haaland’s hat-trick sank the old gold in Manchester, while in the closing stages Wolves passed up opportunities to get on the scoresheet – an area of the pitch Lopetegui is demanding improvement. Wolves had improved after the Spaniard’s triple change at the break and now, with a free weekend to work on the training pitch, Lopetegui is remaining positive, with his head on the task at hand.
On the game plan not working
“It’s of course a negative opinion for today because we didn’t do a good match. They overcame us, not with a lot of chances, but in the offensive phase we didn’t do a lot of things.
“It was difficult because, in my opinion, the first half we didn’t do what we had in our minds. We started losing 1-0 and the second half we tried to go ahead, to change little things, and we started better, but in the first five minutes we had one penalty against us and it’s over more or less and after the third goal.
“This is the risk you have playing against these kinds of teams. It was a pity for me the first half, but not only the loss, but we didn’t do what we had in our mind. Now, we have to start preparing for the next match. When we win or lose, we have to always think for the next match and to improve a lot of things.”
On trying to change things
“It’s not about the forwards, I made three changes because I wanted to change different things, to play and to defend and press, I’m not worried with the three players I changed, you can make changes, maybe it’s your fault on the line-up or maybe your starting decisions.
“In the second half we improved, but maybe when we started being better, we suffered the second goal with the penalty. They have a big quality and when they start winning it’s more difficult of course. We took a big risk, and it was a pity the first time they arrived in our box, it was a penalty.”
On the need to still improve
“In the second half we had different situations we have to do better in the opponent’s box. We had three or four more or less clear situations, but we were losing 2-0. For me, the pity was first 45 minutes, we defended and had to damage more the opponent. It was our intention, but we didn’t do it.
“When we won, we were not thinking it’s all done, so we have to be ready to improve and work hard. Each match is going to be a challenge for us.”
On a free week to work
“This is going to be a long and hard ride for all the teams, and we have to be ready. We have come here, we were in the last position, and now we don’t look at the table. We look at the next match, now the next match is going to be in 15 days, we have to take advantage of the time to work and improve and we ready.
“We have to work a lot. We have improved some things, but it’s not enough, we have to improve more. Each match is one challenge, today we knew it was a difficult match against one of the best teams in the world, but we have to continue working.”
