Julen Lopetegui has described turning around Wolves’ Premier League fortunes as the most difficult achievement of his career as their top-flight status was all-but secured with victory over Aston Villa.
Wolves reached the 40-point mark thanks to Toti’s winning goal in the West Midlands derby at Molineux and the head coach was delighted with how his players responded following a 6-0 loss against Brighton & Hove Albion seven days previously, backed by a boisterous home support.
On all-but securing Premier League safety
“I hope [Wolves are now safe]! Of course, this moment is about the merit of the players. I arrived here five months ago with 15 matches played and 10 points, at the bottom of the table, and the next team was with four points more, so we were in a very bad situation, with a very low morale, but with one belief.
“The players have worked very, very hard and we have suffered a lot – the last match against Brighton was very hard for us to take – and again today, they have showed a big heart, a big commitment and a big quality because we have played against one of the best teams in the second half of the season.
“But we played with the ability that we deserved to win, and we made very good work, so we are happy for the players and for me as a coach, I’m very proud of the players.”
— Wolves (@Wolves) May 6, 2023
On a big Molineux atmosphere
“I want to highlight the club and the work of the staff, the owners, the players and of course the fans. Without our fans all this was impossible. They had a big disappointment in the last match in Brighton, and I understand that, but today they showed their best and we needed their best today.
“They made Molineux very loud and they deserve to have this 40 points with three matches before the end of the season. We have three matches in front of us, with a big illusion to have a good performance and to be able to achieve more.
“We have a very important match in front of us against a very good team in Manchester United at Old Trafford, so we have to be ready to go there and make a good match.”
On responding to Brighton loss
“We tried to be honest with the players to translate to them that they were not this team. Maybe they could have it for one bad day, and maybe we could have reacted better after the first goal, but they are not this team and I had to encourage them to show their level. But this is football.
“You can win, you can lose, but the most important thing is that when you come back to the dressing room you can look each other in the eyes and say you have put all in the pitch. This is my only demand and they did it today. They showed a great reaction, great spirit and great commitment.”
Four in a row at 🏡 pic.twitter.com/6ZhCa2MMUM
— Wolves (@Wolves) May 6, 2023
On the turnaround since his arrival
“I have fortunately won the Europa League, I have put Sevilla three times consecutively into the Champions League for the first time in its history, but for me, this is the most difficult achievement I have made.
“Everything is difficult in football, but the more difficult achievement is this – undoubtably. For a lot of reasons; you are playing in the Premier League, you only have 10 points from 15 matches, you’re at the bottom, but now we have to continue.”
On Toti’s first Wolves goal
“It's one of his strengths and he makes the team stronger. But it was not only about this. I think he’s played well and he’s been as good as the rest of his teammates.
“When you’ve won, you can put the highlight on the player who has scored, but I prefer to highlight the work in all of the players on the pitch, on the bench, and today they are not unlucky when they don’t play, it’s about creating this environment in the dressing room about teamwork.”
