Wolves regarded sure for relegation underneath Gary O’Neil. Their defensive report was one of many worst in Premier League historical past and chaos threatened to devour the membership. Three video games later and new coach Vitor Pereira has them out of the relegation zone.
His first two fixtures introduced two wins with out conceding, the primary back-to-back clear sheets of the season. A late equaliser at Tottenham made it seven factors from 9. All of a sudden, there’s discuss of Wolves being revitalised, the temper utterly reworked.
“The main thing we needed was a change,” Nelson Semedo tells Sky Sports activities. “Vitor arrived along with his employees and after three days we regarded a unique staff. A greater staff. A greater model of us. All of us knew we had that. However we couldn’t attain that degree earlier than.
“It all started on the training pitch. At the end of the day, it was about the details. It took maybe two hours for him to explain how he wanted us to play, how he wanted us to press, how he wanted us to defend. Everyone is happy with that now. And we carry on.”
Pereira quickly received over the supporters, who embraced him from day one, and he has admitted that it was a nice shock how briskly that connection was cast. However simply as vital is the connection along with his gamers. That got here collectively shortly too.
“He is very demanding but he is also a very good human being. For example, we had a couple of days off around New Year because he realised we deserved that. He knows when to give the guys a little sweet. They came back happier and with more energy.”
What has Pereira modified?
O’Neil had talked of gamers having ‘bother dealing with the extent’ and claimed that the group was ‘performing just about close to most’ however these phrases look huge of the mark already. Matheus Cunha stands out however there’s high quality elsewhere on this staff.
Provided that his predecessor had the air of a person who had tried all the things, it’s price noting that Pereira has made some sensible adjustments. Rodrigo Gomes got here in and scored his first Premier League aim. Jose Sa was restored and saved a penalty in opposition to Spurs.
Please use Chrome browser for a extra accessible video participant
FREE TO WATCH: Highlights from Wolves’ win away to Leicester
Andre, a 23-year-old Brazil worldwide signed late in the summertime, had been forged as an issue to unravel however has been excellent underneath Pereira. His positive contact in tight areas and willingness to sort out means his partnership with Joao Gomes is starting to blossom.
Goncalo Guedes had began solely as soon as underneath O’Neil however opened the scoring at Leicester, beginning back-to-back video games for Wolves for the primary time in over two years. “He is happy here and really focused. I think he is a different man now,” says Semedo.
The 2 have recognized one another for years since their time collectively in Benfica’s B staff. “He has a really good understanding of the game and he plays on my side as well, so we don’t even have to talk. He has really settled in and he is doing really well for us.”
One other apparent swap by Pereira was to revive Semedo himself to his favoured wing-back function, transferring Matt Doherty inside to play on the correct aspect of the again three the place the Portuguese had been deployed in the course of the latter phases of O’Neil’s time in cost.
Wolves captain Nelson Semedo has been moved again to wing-back by Vitor Pereira
Regardless of his physicality, Doherty had by no means actually been used there beforehand. However the Irishman has been wonderful within the function and it has allowed Semedo to get again to doing what he does finest. “I am high up the pitch again. To be honest, it is where I prefer to be.”
He explains: “Doc can play centre-back but that right-back knowledge is helping us. It is easy for us to communicate because he knows the movements, knows that when I press up, he has to come to that side. It is making us strong on that side defensively.”
Matt Doherty has been deployed in a brand new place by Wolves boss Vitor Pereira
Extra compact defensively
Tightening up has been important. Wolves had been successfully taking part in 4-2-4 for the second half of their dwelling defeat to Ipswich in O’Neil’s remaining recreation. The gaps had been too huge. Pereira has made them extra compact and restored some management, exactly what was required.
“We have the centre-backs, the wingers and the defensive midfielders, but we also have Cunha and Guedes as the No 10s, dropping deeper, which gives us time to react when we lose the ball.
“I’m fairly positive that you just guys are in a position to see that change too. What it means is that even after we lose the ball, we’re in a position to win it again immediately as a result of we’re all shut to one another.”
The expected goals against was below one in each of Pereira’s first two matches, those wins over Leicester and Manchester United. O’Neil and even Julen Lopetegui before him never once managed that in back-to-back Premier League games as Wolves manager.
Can they beat Forest?
One man who did handle it was Nuno Espirito Santo – 21 instances, actually. There’s a feeling contained in the membership that Wolves should get again to that. Again to being powerful to beat. Turn out to be a critical aspect once more. Wolves face Nuno’s Nottingham Forest aspect on Monday.
Forest go to Molineux within the Champions League locations, a template for what is feasible. “To be honest, I am not surprised,” says Semedo, “as a result of I understand how demanding he’s as effectively. How good he’s, how good his employees is. They’re superb at what they do.
Monday sixth January 6:30pm
Kick off 8:00pm
“We know it is going to be a tough game, but they should expect a very good opponent as well, playing at home with a loud crowd who will be pushing us on. We have that confidence back that we wanted to have now. It feels like we are in a good place again.”
Nuno was the person in cost when Semedo signed for Wolves in the summertime of 2020, swapping the Nou Camp of Barcelona for the South Financial institution of Molineux because the supporters’ music about him goes. Semedo is a favorite now however that first season was tough.
Enchancment and captaincy
“My first season was not good enough. I was not prepared for the Premier League. I had been playing in teams that were used to having the ball. Benfica had 70 per cent possession. Every game for Barcelona was the same. This was a different team.
“Defending after which taking part in on the counter-attack, it was fairly onerous for me and really bodily. I feel it took me a while to adapt however that’s regular as a result of that is the perfect league on the earth. I’ve improved. I’m utterly settled now and having fun with it.”
Please use Chrome browser for a extra accessible video participant
Highlights from Wolves’ Premier League victory over Manchester United
Certainly, he’s Wolves’ captain now after Mario Lemina was stripped of the function following an altercation at West Ham final month. Semedo has a unique mentality. “I think I am balanced. I try not to be too emotional and I think everyone trusts me,” he says.
“The armband identifies one captain but I want to encourage everyone to feel that responsibility of being like a captain. I have their back and I am pushing them on. I think that is a better way to bring the group together – and that is the most important thing.”
Semedo’s future at Wolves
Now 31, Semedo has definitely not misplaced his velocity when flying up that flank. He ranks amongst Wolves’ quickest gamers and there are solely two gamers over 30 to have clocked a better prime velocity within the Premier League this season – Kyle Walker and Heung-Min Son.
“I still feel really good,” he insists, our dialog having been barely delayed by his further work within the therapy room. “I have to take care of my body the best I can because I still have, I would say, five more years of football. But I feel great, to be honest.”
The place is that future? Semedo was Wolves’ gamers’ participant of the season final time round, however his contract is up in the summertime and there are not any imminent indicators of a brand new deal. Is he on his method out? “I would not say that. We still have six months,” he counters.
“We have to talk with the club, see what the club wants, what I want as well. And see what is better for both sides. I have been here for five years and it has been really good. And I love the Premier League as well. So yeah, let’s see what the future holds for us.”
As for Wolves’ future, Semedo is optimistic – even when they have to face Forest with out the suspended Cunha. “It is a very big loss for us but we did really good in the second half against Tottenham without him.” Certainly, Wolves lastly look upwardly cell once more.
They’d extra of the ball in opposition to United and Spurs, however there’s extra to return from their possession recreation underneath Pereira. “We still have to improve on that. But then, it has been two weeks and we have already had a big change. It is getting better and better.”
Watch Monday Night time Soccer between Wolves and Nottingham Forest from 6.30pm on Sky Sports activities Premier League; kick-off 8pm
