Matheus Cunha believes Wolves have plenty of quality in their squad to cause an upset in their opening match of the 2023/24 Premier League season as the Old Gold face Manchester United at Old Trafford.
The Brazilian had been a key part of the team during a pre-season under Julen Lopetegui, but with Wolves now under the leadership of Gary O’Neil, Cunha insists the players will put the off-field changes to one side and focus all their energies onto the pitch as they try to get their season off to the best possible start.
On easing the pressure
“I had a lot of pressure. When I first came here and we were in the last position in the table, we needed to improve a lot.
“But now I think the pressure is out because I know the club and I know how everything is. Now I know I have to do everything I can for the team, for myself and I’m very happy with this.”
On off-field changes
“We need to put the focus in the pitch. Whatever has gone on out of the pitch, it is not my business, I just need to do everything on the pitch.
“As teammates, we see each other every day and we are all happy and want to do everything for the club. When you are happy together, you support each other a little bit more.”
On facing Manchester United
“First of all, we need to be happy with our teammates and our group. After, we will go to Old Trafford looking to improve a lot [on last season] and win the game.
“Every game in the Premier League is very hard, and for sure, when you play against Manchester United it’s the same because the name is completely crazy and known by everyone in the world. Everyone knows Manchester United, knows the quality of the players, but Manchester United also know us quite well and know the quality that we have.
“We have a lot of quality players and play a lot of good football, so with this quality and a complete recovery, I think we have the ability to do a very good game there.”
"What's 2+2?"
— Wolves (@Wolves) August 6, 2023
Asking the difficult questions in the Wolves lipreading challenge.
🎧🗣
On relationship with Antony
“I have a lot of friends at Manchester United, but Antony is a big friend of mine and we have a very good relationship – we always keep in touch with each other.
“We were in the Brazil under-23 team where we won the Olympics together, we moved to the first-team together, we were in the Brazil national team together and we played a lot of games together, but hopefully the next game of us, I will win!”
On being the underdogs
“I came from Atletico Madrid and we were always in the position where we were the favourites. But I’ve also played in Sion, and in Leipzig and Berlin in the Bundesliga where I played against Bayern Munich many times, so I’ve seen both sides.
“The most important part of this is when you go to beautiful parts of the football world, like Old Trafford, you have to enjoy playing there. When you were a kid, it was always a dream to play in stadiums like that, and when you are there, the most important thing is to enjoy it, be happy and do everything that you can to improve.”
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