Rayan Ait-Nouri admits he is relishing his new role as one of Wolves’ senior players and credits a more mature mindset to why he is enjoying one of the most productive seasons of his career to date.
Ahead of a visit to Anfield to take on Liverpool for the second time this season, the Algerian international – who netted in Wolves’ narrow loss to the Reds at Molineux earlier in the campaign – is proving his worth both on and off the field as he has not only starred with four goals and five assists, but also has been a welcoming presence to help the new additions to the squad settle quickly.
His new defensive colleagues Emmanuel Agbadou and Nasser Djiga are French speakers, and although they possess a better grasp of the English language than Ait-Nouri did when he first arrived in Wolverhampton four-and-a-half years ago, the wing-back has used his previous experiences to ensure both players have already acclimatised to life at Wolves.
On taking confidence to Anfield
“We are very happy and we have confidence after these wins. We did very well and we train every day for these kinds of things, for this sensation, and we will be well prepared for the next game.
“At the moment, for me, Liverpool is the best team in the world. They’ve shown very good thing this year, but we know this league is very hard, every team is hard to play against.
“But we have a good team also, with good players, and we will prepare and we will train very hard every day to go to Anfield and show something."
Job done 👏 pic.twitter.com/wyX0A9Nf3X
— Wolves (@Wolves) February 9, 2025
On facing Liverpool
“I’ve played before in Anfield and the atmosphere is very good. It’s a very good stadium also, but for us, the most important thing is that we need to be focused on the game because we know it's not easy to play at Anfield, but we will try to do our best to take some good things from Liverpool.
“I watched their last two games and we saw that they lost against Plymouth in the FA Cup, and on Wednesday they made a draw, and this is good also for our confidence because we know what we can achieve there and how important it is to prepare well for this game.
“Hopefully we will go and take some points from Anfield – that will be very good for us and for our confidence also.”
On scoring against the Reds earlier this season
“To be honest, I remember we did a very good game. We were good with the ball, we were solid also in the defence and I scored one goal. It was an amazing moment for me, but the most important thing is the team, and I remember that we didn't win.
“We didn't win this game because although in the second half we were good, but Liverpool, they pushed on and they scored to make it 2-1.
“But hopefully this Sunday we will win, but we need to be properly focused we need to keep pushing, every one of us, to make sure it’s a good performance against Liverpool.”
On having one of his best campaigns
“I try to give 100% for this team because we deserve it. This team deserves, the fans deserve and the coach also deserves it, and I try to train every day on my last shot, my last cross.
“Because I remember that when I first came here, I was very good with the ball, but the last cross, the last pass the last shot, it was a little bit like I tried to do some things, but it was not good.
“But now, this season, I have some more assists, some more goals, and it’s very good for me, but the most important thing is the team. I don't make assists or I don't make goals but we win, I will be more than happy.”
On becoming a senior Wolves player
“My mindset has changed because now I have a lot more experience in the Premier League. I've been here for four or five years now so I have more determination, more focus, I work a lot on the small details, and I try to do my best because these kinds of things are very important.
“This year, I can see the difference outside of the pitch. The food I eat, the recovery I do, because before, when I was young, there were things that I didn’t do, but now this year, I’ve tried to change some things, and it’s been good for me and good for the team.”
Fast feet from Rayan ✨ pic.twitter.com/gwMiXfbQBC
— Wolves (@Wolves) February 3, 2025
On helping settle in the new signings
“The signings have been very important to the team. We’ve seen with Emmanuel Agbadou that he’s done very well the last few weeks. He is good for us and for the team also because he can help us.
“Nasser is the same, he’s a very young centre-back, but he’s very strong, has very good quality with the ball also, so he will help the team. I speak a little bit with him as he speaks French, so I’ve tried to help him because I was in the same situation when I first came here.
“But the most important things is now he has joined the family, then we will give everything for him, and he will help the team.”
On ustilising his experience
“Maybe the difference from when I came here was that I didn't speak English at all. Nasser can speak some English, Emmanuel also can speak English well, so all the new players, they can speak English which really helps and is very important.
“But I’ve tried to give him some advice to enjoy playing, to take pleasure from playing, because football is a pleasure for me. If you are happy and confident then you can make a difference on the pitch.
“I’ve tried to help them because I've now been here a long time now, so I know the league well, I know the club, and it’s a very good club, so all of these new players are good and can really help.”
