Congratulations on the victory, Ruben. Are you particularly satisfied with the performance in the second half, especially considering how the first half concluded?
“Absolutely. Once again, after scoring, we became slightly careless with the ball, which gave the opponent a glimmer of hope. However, we also created numerous chances in the first half and should have ended it on a more positive note. At halftime, the team recognized that we had everything we needed to secure the win and claim all three points, and they delivered. The pace and quality we exhibited in the second half were commendable, especially given the challenging moment Wolves are facing as a club. We took full advantage of that.”
Regarding the front three, this marks the third time they’ve started together, and they’ve performed well in all those matches. Are you encouraged by their adaptation, considering your system typically requires a traditional striker?
“Definitely. When it comes to system versus system, if you remove certain references, [Matheus] Cunha can step up to fill that gap. We need to limit the crosses because we have more opportunities to execute corner runs and similar plays. The quality they demonstrated in the spaces available was impressive, and they grasped the style of game they needed to play, leveraging their individual strengths.”
When you secure such a significant win, is it crucial to demonstrate that this performance isn’t just a one-off and that you can consistently string together positive results?
“Firstly, we’re in a league where winning every week is quite challenging, as evidenced by the league standings. This particular match had its own context, facing a team that is really struggling, which was evident in various moments throughout the game. The next match will undoubtedly present a different challenge, and we need to be aware of that. At our club, it’s not just about the recent run of form; what truly matters is how we approach the next game. So, let’s concentrate on that. We need to continue improving our style of play; sometimes we need to find alternative approaches. We are actively working on that, and facing Bournemouth will be an entirely different experience.”
