When Wolves faced Southampton in November Jose Sa became the club’s most used goalkeeper of the Premier League era.
The Portuguese has now turned out 121 times for the club since his arrival in 2021, but has faced new challenges this season, having twice been dislodged from the starting 11 earlier in the campaign.
Now back in the team, with healthy competition from Sam Johnstone, Sa has spoken openly about what has been a “difficult” season for the club and him personally, but also about the new positive feeling around Compton Park under head coach Vitor Pereira.
On turning this season around
“It was a difficult first half of the season. We didn't start like we wanted, but I think now things have changed, and we are fighting for what we deserve and what we want, which is winning games. We go out to fight and do our best and try to bring the best result that we can with us.”
On this season for him personally
“This season has been difficult, with what happened with me. I continued working and believing, and after I came back to the team, and I'm trying to do my best to help them.
“It was a difficult situation to handle. We have to be strong, and we have to work, and show our potential. Just work and after it’s not in our hands, it’s not us who decides who plays. We have to do our best.”
Jose guesses the right way 🧤 pic.twitter.com/L7o96jqOnq
— Wolves (@Wolves) December 30, 2024
On playing under Pereira
“It’s very good because he’s brought new ideas, new mentality, new passion. I think the players are very happy with him, and the way that he plays. All of us are trying to do our best to show our value.
“All of them [the past managers] are good, and all of them, when they were here, did a great job. They worked very well, and, in my opinion, Vitor Pereira will do the same. He will do a very good job here and we will achieve our aims.
“We are playing more with the feet and more positional. That’s what we’re working on more. The way that we play, our passion in the game now, we believe in everything now, so it’s a lot of difference.”
On Newcastle up next
“It will be a difficult game, because Newcastle are an amazing team and very solid team, but we are working to take the three points, and we will go there to try to do this.
“It's difficult to play there always, but now we are improving, and in my opinion, we are playing better too. We are confident, and we will do our best. It's amazing, the stadium, the environment, it's very good, I think everyone likes to play them.”
On Agbadou’s arrival
“He’s been very good. We are a very good group, and we have very good people, and all of us are trying to put him inside of the group, and I think we did that, and I think he feels comfortable with us, and this is good for us.
“Physically, he’s very good. Technically, he shows very good stuff. It’s early to say, I didn't know him before, but of course he will bring us a lot of help that we need.”
On saving the penalty from Son
“Finally, I saved a penalty. It was good, for me and my teammates. I'm doing my best. No one is perfect, sometimes I made a mistake, sometimes my teammates make mistakes, and I need to be there to help him. This is football. You have to know the opponent and sometimes you're lucky.”
