Dan Bentley was ‘bursting with pride’ having made his Wolves debut away at Old Trafford on Saturday but admitted there was mixed emotions after his side fell to defeat to Manchester United.
With more than 400 career games under his belt, the goalkeeper – who signed for Wolves from Bristol City in January – produced a lauded display as he pulled out several stunning stops to halt Man United from racking up the goals in his long-awaited first start in the Premier League. But Bentley insists he will be giving his all to keep the shirt from fellow keeper Jose Sa for not only the final two fixtures of the current season but the foreseeable future.
On loss at Old Trafford
“It was nice to contribute in a positive way. It was my Premier League debut at Old Trafford against a very good team, but I was obviously disappointed that we weren’t able to get anything from the game.
“I thought we carried a threat but we probably could have been a little bit more ruthless and a little bit more clinical, in regards to what we did in the final third. You have days like that sometimes and can get a bit frustrated, but we were in the game.
“We threw caution to the wind a little bit at the end and threw bodies forward, hence the second goal when we got done on the break, which is disappointing.
“The goal at the end was a killer blow, especially as we were tyring to maybe salvage something from the game but we were playing against a very good team and credit to United, I thought they were good and moved the ball really well. We dealt with them for the most part, but it wasn't to be.”
On an impressive Wolves debut
“From a personal point of view, I’m bursting with pride to make my Premier League debut. I have contrasting emotions of personal pride and I’m really pleased to have made my debut, but I’m also disappointed that we didn’t come away with anything.
“I’m really pleased with my individual performance, but it’s always the team performance and the team result that is the most important thing, so we’re all disappointed.
“But it's nice to show people what I can do. It's not easy for all games to be plain sailing, all games are slightly different, but I pride myself on keeping the ball out the back of the net. That's the first part of goalkeeping and then you have the other things like distribution, which you work on as a team to get up the pitch and retain the ball, but making nice saves is always a good thing.
“If I can contribute positively and make saves at the big moments which can keep us in the game then that’s fantastic and it will always give us a chance, but at the same time, we’re obviously disappointed that we didn’t take anything from the game, but credit to Manchester United because they were very good.”
On finding out about his first start
“I found out a couple of days ago. The manager pulled me aside and asked me if I was ready and there was no way I was going to turn that opportunity down.
“I’ve been waiting for this moment for a long time and it’s been a long, hard road of league football and since I can remember really, working every day so I can one day achieve a dream of mine since I was a little boy – to become a Premier League footballer.
“I did everything I could not to let the moment pass me by. I wanted to take the opportunity with both hands and really show what I can do. I don’t just want it to be a one-off appearance, I want to stay there and keep the shirt.”
On stepping out at Old Trafford
“I'm a very intense player when I'm playing. Very on it and in the game, but there were a couple times I looked around. I felt at home playing in the Premier League, I didn't feel out of place, but you only get one debut and I was trying to take it in.
“In the warm-up I was trying to stay chilled and be in the moment, which is one thing a couple people said to me before the game. But it's a personal performance I'm happy with.”
On his journey to the Premier League
“I don't think there's a one size fits all route to the Premier League. The romantic story with a fairy tale ending is you play one season and then you're straight to the Premier League, but football doesn't always work like that.
“Goalkeeping is slightly different to outfield players and experience is invaluable. I'm a very experienced guy for my age. I've played just shy of 450 games now I think, but to make my Premier League debut tops the lot.
“It's a real proud moment for me and it goes to show the hard work and the sacrifice over all those years has all been worth it for this moment.”
👏 @dan_bentley1 pic.twitter.com/YnVIQbTwJ8
— Wolves (@Wolves) May 13, 2023
On staying as number one
“From my point of view, I now have the shirt and it’s up to me to prove that I’m worthy of keeping it. Every time I get an opportunity, I give my utmost to try and stay in the team. That’s always been the philosophy of mine.
“It’s never that the shirt is safe with one person or another, you always want to be the person that has it and have to work hard to keep hold of it.
I have full respect for Jose Sa and I get on really well with him. I knew that he was a fantastic goalkeeper before I even came to the club and obviously the competition between me and him is very difficult for both of us, but we bring the best out of each other and he was very supportive of me today.
“Now I’m in the team, I want to stay in it. I didn’t come here to be on the bench, I came here to play and if today’s performance helps me to continue to play, then fantastic.”
On finishing the season well
“There’s no foot off the gas from us, if that’s the term you want to use. There’s no on the beach or anything like that, there’s points to play for and we want to get as high up the table as possible and we want to accumulate as many points as possible.
“Just because we’ve hit 40 points that doesn’t mean we can be complacent, rest on our laurels, or be on the beach for the rest of the season – there’s no room for that in our changing room or at the football club.
“I don’t think we were at our best today and I think we struggled on the ball a little bit at times. In the final third we could have been a little bit more clinical and put them under more pressure, but at the same time, I thought United were very good.”
