Play-off final hero and former Wolves goalkeeper Matt Murray discusses how he would fare if he was at the peak of his footballing career in the modern-day game.
Team most like to play against | Manchester City
I’d love to play against this Man City team. I’d want to play against Erling Halland because he’s an absolutely incredible striker and I’d like to see how I’d get on. They’re an unbelievable team and when I look back at my career, I played against Alan Shearer, Gareth Bale, and I loved playing against people like that, so if I was playing now, I’d love to say to my grandkids that I played against Haaland and maybe I made a save against him – I probably wouldn’t have and I’d be picking the ball out of the net!
Team least like to play against | Aston Villa
At the moment, it would be Villa. They’re really good and Watkins really presses you like a man possessed, and he’d be tearing after me. All my mates are Villa fans, so if they beat us, I’d never hear the end of it. It would probably be the fear of losing to Villa would be why I wouldn’t like to play against them.
Player most like to face | Kylian Mbappe
I mentioned Haaland before, and I never got the chance to play against Cristiano Ronaldo, even though I was at Wolves when we played against United when he was there, I never got the chance to play in those ones, but just because I want to face the best and my little boy would be absolutely buzzing if he watched me play against Mbappe – although he might disown me if I stopped him scoring! I love Mbappe, I think he’s awesome, so if I made a save off Mbappe and could show that to my little boy, I’d be buzzing.
Player least like to face | Bukayo Saka
I never liked coming up against clever forwards, and I’ve already said Watkins and if I was facing Phil Foden, I think I’d be in trouble. I really rate him and I think he’s a really good player, but the one I’d least like to face would be Saka. He’s the one for me. He’s a really good finisher, especially with the way he cuts inside and uses his left foot, but he has the ability to go either way, plus he always seems to do well against Wolves! I’m a massive fan of his.
Manager most like to play for | Rob Edwards
It would be nice to play for one of my best mates, but I’d also get the chance to just look at him every day because he’s so handsome!
Wolves player most like to play with | Joao Gomes
I’m a big fan of Joao Gomes because I just love the way he plays and think he's brilliant. I like him a lot and he’s a top player. We’ve got some very good young players now, but I think Gomes is right up there and has the potential to be one of the best.
Competition most like to win | Champions League
When you’re a kid, everyone dreams of winning a World Cup as a player, but domestically, I think the Champions League is the one. You’d love to win a World Cup because you’d be revered forever by your whole nation, but if you want to be loved by Wolves fans forever, it would be the Champions League. Winning that with Wolves would be the pinnacle.
Stadium most like to play at | Tottenham Hotspur Stadium
The new Tottenham stadium looks unreal. It would be unbelievable to play there. Everyone who I’ve spoken to who’ve played there have said it’s something else, so it would definitely be the new Tottenham stadium.
Aspect most like to have | Recovery techniques
It would have to be the recovery techniques and the real in-depth physio treatment, sport science and modern recovery technology that goes into ensuring the players can recover as well as possible. If I had that when I was playing, then I don’t think I would have ended up getting the injuries which I did.
Aspect least like to have | Social media
This is an easy one – social media. I just think how everybody’s got an opinion now and knows everything, it just takes away the human side of things. There are so many amazing fans, but you always see the horrible things that are put up on social media by a minority of supporters. The minority always spoil it for the majority. I feel there’s not as much of a connection between players and fans in real life anymore and I think social media has created that. I always used to like going out into town and meeting the fans, but now, because of social media, you feel the lads are always on guard.
This article originally featured in Wolves' official 2024/25 matchday programme. Last season's programmes are still available to purchase online through retailers Curtis Sports.
