Former Wolves midfielder Dave Edwards was a special guest at training this week as the Championship title winner got a first hand look at how Gary O’Neil is setting up his side for the visit of Chelsea to Molineux.
Edwards paid a visit to Compton Park alongside his son, Jack, on Friday where the final preparations were being put on the pitch by the players and the coaching staff ahead of Wolves getting their 2024/25 home campaign underway against the Blues.
On being back at Compton
“It’s completely changed. It's been probably seven or eight years, but it’s great to back. Even just walking through the door there’s obviously familiar faces. It hasn’t felt like seven years, it feels like normal, but it's been great.
“I brought my boy, he’s a massive, massive Wolves fan, so it's been like Christmas Day for him. I’ve come out to watch training and it’s been really good fun. The pace that the training was played at, how quick the passing is, how quick the movement is, how athletic they all are.
“My son, Jack, was asking me, ‘Was it this quick when you played here?’ And it definitely wasn't. The quality's definitely gone up, but it's been a really special day, and the training ground is incredibly good now.”
Good vibes in training 👍 pic.twitter.com/HGgTvineFR
— Wolves (@Wolves) August 22, 2024
On watching training
“We’ve definitely enjoyed what we’ve been seeing out in training. They've had a bit of a shorter session today, we got to see some little possession drills, which was just hectic and fast, and you got to see just how good they all really are.
“Players like Rayan Ait-Nouri, how good his feet are, and Joao Gomes, Lemina, all of them, you got too see how good they all are in training. We also got to watch some finishing as well, and that was always my favourite thing when I was training, doing the finishing drills, so we got to watch them, and there's a lot more equipment here than what we used to have as well.
“They’ve been making use of all the different types of mannequins and rebound boards and things like that, so I'd love to be playing this era now, with all the facilities, it’s brilliant.”
On facing Chelsea this weekend
“I’m really confident. To get your first points on the board in the season is important, and the sooner you can do it, the better. But I think after what was a really positive pre-season, some exciting signings coming, a well-balanced squad, and then that first game at the Emirates to be very competitive against what was a very good Arsenal team – their home from last year was excellent, so it was always going to be difficult.
“But Wolves were in the game for long periods, and maybe the timings of the goal and the manner of them was a little bit disappointing, but they had chances.
“They created, like they have done under Gary O'Neil since he took over at the football club, and I think the first game back at Molineux this season, with new signings on show, I think the fans will really get behind him and provide that energy, and they've definitely got the quality then to go and win the game.”
On last season’s results against the Blues
“It definitely does have an impact, especially when you play someone who is perceived to be one of the bigger teams in the country. If you beat them, then that’s a massive positive feeling you get that it is possible.
“Once you do that, and you break through that glass ceiling, then you think you can go and do it again, like they showed last year. The game at Chelsea last year was just incredible, then to get the win at home was special.
“But I know the boys will be really confident going into the game this Sunday. There's been a lot of changes at Chelsea in recent years, and more again this season, new manager, new players, and I think playing them early on in the season is a good thing that they might not be fully set, although they did look decent against Man City the weekend.
“It will be a tough game, but I'm really confident with the players we've got, and the manager in charge that we’ll be able to get the three points.”
On Pedro Neto’s return to Molineux
“I'm sure he'll get a good reaction from the fans. He gave everything to the football club, he did such a terrific job, and we've helped him develop into that next level.
“He'll get a good reception, but I'm hoping it's from the bench, I hope he doesn't start, and I hope he maybe only gets five minutes at the end when we're already two or three-nil up.”
