The midfielder admitted Wolves were fortunate to go into the break level with Spurs following a tough opening 45 minutes, but after making changes at the break, which saw the team switch to a back three and bring Adama Traore – who scored the only goal of the game late on – off the bench, the tide turned in their favour. But Neves is not resting on his laurels and knows there is still a long way to go if Wolves are to maintain their Premier League status for another season.
On three points at Molineux
“It was a massive win. We’ve been speaking about this for a long time now, just going game by game, and try to play every single game as a final. We knew Tottenham is in fantastic form and maybe one of the best teams who have played here this season.
“It was really hard to play against them in the first-half, there was a lot of intensity, a lot of pressure, and really good with the ball as well, but this is the Premier League.
“We spoke at half-time because we suffered a lot in the first-half, so to go in at nil-nil we knew we had 45 minutes to get a goal and win the game, and thankfully we did it.”
On the impact of half-time changes
“Because it was a really tough first-half, we knew we needed to change something in the second-half, the little details, because their front players are incredible players.
“Even when you try to press them high, they have Son, Kane and Kulusevski playing up front and if you leave them one-v-one, it’s really hard defending against them, so we tried one more centre-half there and one midfielder in front of them and try to stop the passes into those three players, and I think we did it well.
“We improved a lot as well when we had the ball and frankly, because of our character, because of our attitude we deserved the win today.”
On the noise after Adama’s goal
“It was amazing. It always is in Molineux. I think the fans felt what we felt inside as well, it was a really tough game and when you suffer a lot for the team, when you’re running a lot for the team, and when you give 100 per cent to help the team and then you score a goal, it’s a relief.
“It’s really good for us as a team and for the fans as well, because they felt that. We’ve been working really hard to get those three points today and fortunately we have some time to rest now because we have two really tough games in the days ahead and we have to do it again.
“Congratulations to all the players, all the staff and all the fans as well because today was about believing in ourselves, especially in that second-half, and we got the three points we wanted.”
Digging 𝗱𝗲𝗲𝗽 and finding a way to win.
— Wolves (@Wolves) March 4, 2023
💛 pic.twitter.com/j0HtQ9C3e9
On a first win over a ‘big six’ club this season
“It doesn’t mean too much. We are in the middle of playing every single game of the final and we’re trying to get out of there, because there are about eight or nine teams fighting for the same thing.
“It’s the Premier League and we never know what’s going to happen, so we need to be focused every game.
“As I said after the Bournemouth game, if we lose, we are not the worst and we are not the best when we win, so let’s get rest now and then let’s get ready for the next match. That’s the most important thing.”
