Ahead of joining up with the Portugal national team for the first time, Toti reflected on his first full season in the Wolves first-team which saw the defender enjoy a run in the side at left-back.
Although normally a centre-back, Toti fit in seamlessly on the left of a back four where he produced several impressive showings to help Wolves avoid the drop. The Portuguese has also looked forward to the new campaign as well as joining back up with the squad as they prepare for a pre-season visit to South Korea next month.
On a season of survival
“It’s been a season with ups and downs for the team. We started with one coach and we finished with another coach.
“We had a little bit of a struggle at the beginning of the season, until the middle part of the season, but since the new coach came in, he changed a bit of the mentality and the way that we should approach the games, so we couldn’t get relegation.
“But we’ve been working really well the second half of the season, so hopefully we can carry that on to the new season.”
On his first full season in Old Gold
“It's also been a season of ups and downs for me as well. At the beginning I didn’t have too much game time, but since the new coach arrived, I started playing a little bit more, in centre back and left back especially.
“It wasn’t so difficult [to play left-back] because I know this position, I’ve played this position before, left-back as well as centre-back, and I knew the things and I knew what I needed to do with my work, so I’ve enjoyed it.
“But I was just focused on improving and working with the guys and I’m glad that I could have some minutes to play, so it’s been good.”
On off-season plans
“After the season finished, I just wanted to have some time with the family, relax and recover before joining up with the national team for the first time and working to come back stronger for the new season.
“That’s the plan for me. To do everything I can to come back stronger.”
Toti into the starting XI.
— Wolves (@Wolves) October 8, 2022
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On heading to South Korea for pre-season
“I’ve not really been to many countries in Asia before, so it will be my first time to Korea, and the first time for most of us, but it’s Channy’s [Hwang] home country and I’m pretty sure he will help us out there with everything because he knows the country better than anyone.
“I think we’re all really looking forward to the pre-season. I’m looking forward to exploring a new culture, the food and everything over there, so it will be a really good trip. Every year during the off-season I try to go somewhere new and a different country to see what the culture is like and explore everything else, so I’m going to enjoy what we do there.”
On preparing for the 2023/24 campaign
“It will be good to start the pre-season with the coach from the beginning. We had a kind of pre-season after the World Cup last year, and we were able to spend time with him in Marbella, so we could get to know the way he works, so we already know what to expect from him this summer.
“But I’m looking forwards to joining back up with my teammates and the staff and I’ll be looking at my work to try to be ready for what is coming. I will keep working hard and we will see how it will be.”
