Vitor Pereira says his group are “creating something” here in Wolverhampton and will take his side to Anfield on Sunday with no fear.
The Old Gold head to league leaders Liverpool aware of their strengths, but with confidence of their own after consecutive victories against Aston Villa in the Premier League and Blackburn Rovers in the FA Cup.
Having strengthened his arm with the arrivals of Nasser Djiga and Marshall Muntesi recently, the head coach now believes Wolves are in a better position than when he arrived in December and wants continued positive momentum between now and May.
On the group being in a good place
“I think we are better than when we started. I’m pleased with the work that the players are doing. I think inside [the squad] the competition is higher at this moment, and this is where we are. Of course we can increase our level week by week, but I'm happy with the team.
“When we started work, we had to convince them to play in a style, in a game model. And the first weeks they tried to be aligned with what the coach was asking. But, week after week they started to enjoy it, because they started to be comfortable in the roles. It means they don’t need to focus too much on the system. They know in each moment of the game what we should do, and I'm feeling that now they are in conditions to compete.”
On facing Liverpool
“My focus is my team, to increase our level, and we must go there with our qualities, looking for our qualities. Of course, we'll face a strong team, in a fantastic environment. We have to defend with our tools, with our work, but I believe that we'll play a good game for sure, fighting for a good result.
“I respect every team, and Liverpool are one of the best in this league. But, of course, a good result brings us confidence, and this is important in this moment.”
On remaining calm in the Premier League
“If you look at my career, I’ve worked at clubs where pressure is day by day, and I need this pressure. I need this because without pressure, I cannot be myself. This is what I'm looking for in the Premier League. I'm looking for the best teams, the best players, the best coaches, supporters, fantastic supporters, and this was my target before and now I’m enjoying.
“We are creating something in Wolverhampton. I'm not thinking of going there [to Anfield] to defend for 90 minutes to take a point from the game. I'm thinking to prepare the team to go there to play in our way, or to try to play in our way, with our tools, with our skills, with our qualities, and to get the best possible result.”
On Munetsi and Djiga settling in
“Good players. I think they add quality to the team. They have the skills, each one in their position, to help the team. We have a good team, and they are team players. They are committed, focused on the work, and this is what we need, this kind of player.
“[Munetsi] is a transition midfielder, box to box. He has the power to go in our box, to defend, and after a second to be in the other box. This is something that we need in this team to appear with more players in the box, and we are improving a lot, the way that we attack the box, the way that we defend. We need to have more moments to control the pace of the game.
“He’s [Djiga] working hard to be ready to help the team, like the other players. I'm very happy with the competition inside the team, and because of this we can increase our level.”
Anfield on Sunday 🆚 pic.twitter.com/YuHV10DYuI
— Wolves (@Wolves) February 12, 2025
On Agbadou’s form
“I'm very happy with him because he's a strong player. He's helping us and was a very good signing. He brought strength, pace, confidence in the duels, which I like to see. He’s good with the ball. He has the skills that I like in a centre back.”
