Mario Lemina believes Wolves’ end of season form at Molineux is setting the foundations for the new season under Julen Lopetegui.
The midfielder’s arrival has been crucial to Wolves’ turnaround in form during the second part of the campaign, and Saturday’s win over Aston Villa was the club’s fourth in succession on their own patch. With Wolves officially safe in the Premier League, attention can now turn to the new season, and Lemina is looking forward to the new challenge, knowing he’s playing under a head coach who trusts him.
On an enjoyable second half of the season
“When you come to a team you just want to do the best. I think for the next season we are going to try to make the best version of our team. We are going to try to build it from now and afterwards in pre-season try to have the best shape that Wolves have ever seen.
“I think we have really good players, and they work really hard. If we try to give what we give right now with 100 per cent, then something is going to change next year.”
Great shift, @LeminaM_13 👏 pic.twitter.com/JQHUb3iuHG
— Wolves (@Wolves) May 6, 2023
On his personal form
“I try always to be the best version of myself in the team I play. I have more maturity than when I play in Southampton. It is much different. I try to get all the experience I have to put it on the pitch to give to the other players also.
“I try to fill in the gaps because we have so many good players who can go forward. I need to analyse well to find the best position in the pitch to try to recover the ball and make the others recover the ball. That is what I try to do. The gaffer gives me a lot of freedom with it. He knows I am a hard worker, and I will go in for every ball. I try to analyse well.”
On bouncing back against Villa
“It hurt a lot the game against Brighton – it was very hard for us and hard for the fans. But we showed we are working really hard every week and it is a good result for us.
“We are happy, we know that we are going to be in the Premier League next year and we can work on it from now until the pre-season. I am really excited.”
On the work of Lopetegui
“It was a big challenge for him, but he knows what he is going to bring to the team. He pushed us hard every day. That is what we tried to show to the pitch. That is what we are doing.
“He is an emotional manager. He works really hard and wants the players to give everything in 90 minutes. That is what we are trying to translate on the pitch.”
