Toti insists Wolves will be showing Southampton plenty of respect as the Old Gold travel to take on the Premier League’s bottom club in a ‘crucial’ clash in the south coast on Saturday.
The defender, who has been in impressive form this season – but especially since the arrival of compatriot Vitor Pereira – believes the squad are not going to underestimate Saints, but will be doing everything they can to pick up what would be a vitally important three points in their own push for survival.
On taking on Southampton
“It's going to be a crucial game for us. We know it’s not going to be an easy game. Of course, they are in the last place, but that doesn't mean anything. Every game in the Premier League is hard and we need to respect them as a team.
“But we know that we have a strong team, and we're going to try to be very well organised and take the best ideas that the coach is telling us during the beginning of the week to the game and go there to take the three points.”
✊ @TotiGomes23 pic.twitter.com/qhlGk11ixC
— Wolves (@Wolves) March 13, 2025
On not taking Saints lightly
“No game in the Premier League is easy. Just because they in the last place, it doesn’t mean they are not a good team.
“Like I said, we need to respect them as a team, but we need to know that we can do much better, and we’re going to do our very best to go there and take the three points.”
On producing quality performances
“I've been feeling good, especially since the coach arrived. Vitor been passing us some different ideas and the system that we've been playing with him, I've been enjoying.
“I've been feeling good on the pitch, but it's not just because of myself, it's because of my teammates who've been helping me a lot. I’ve been feeling much more comfortable and have been doing my very best on each game.”
Tremendous from @TotiGomes23 🪨 pic.twitter.com/Acoqvk0kNu
— Wolves (@Wolves) March 10, 2025
On building relationships in defence
“I definitely think so. With the help of Rayan too on the left, we understand each other very well. I think I kind of give Rayan a little comfort too so he can go forward. But I also feel good playing with Agba, and Doc and Nelson on the right.
“It's not just those guys, but it’s every player that comes in, they're all going to do their best. We still have other players on the bench too, they can come and give us a lot, but we've been feeling very solid with this formation and these players.”
On becoming a senior player in the squad
“Many players have left but I've been here for a long time. I went on loan but I came and I’m now feeling like I’m starting to be one of the most important players, especially because of the games that I have been in on the squad.
“Now I’m a senior player, I’ve been working on my leadership a lot since I arrived. I've been learning from previous players like Conor Coady, Willy Boly and Romain Saiss during the time that they were here and I tried to learn with them.
“When I first arrived, they tried to teach me and pass on some of their ideas, and now I'm in their places, I need to pass these ideas on to the other players that are around. As a centre-back, I know I need to have the voice and need to be one of the leaders in the team, and that's what I've been trying to do.”
