Vitor Pereira believes his Wolves team are in a positive position as they head north to face an Emirates FA Cup fourth round tie against Championship outfit Blackburn Rovers on Sunday.
After the arrival of new signings Marshall Munetsi and Nasser Djiga on deadline day and star forward Matheus Cunha signing a new long-term contract in the wake of his goal in the win against Aston Villa last weekend, the head coach is confident his players are fully committed to producing a performance which will secure passage into the next round of the cup.
On having a week to prepare for the cup
“We did very good work in the last three days, so I'm happy. I'm happy because, with the last result, we feel more energy, better energy, but the good results they bring confidence.
“I think the group now is more competitive, and this was something that I felt in the training sessions and to achieve our targets, we must be competitive inside the group.
“We must feel that we are competing [with each other] to be better, and I'm happy for that.”
On facing Blackburn in the fourth round
“I’m just thinking about the next game, because I cannot think away from that.
“We will face a historical club in this country, away, and we'll go there with just one thing in our minds, and that is to win the game and to move forward into the next round.
“This is our commitment, to do our best to win the game. A good result brings confidence.”
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On new signings possibly featuring this weekend
“It’s difficult, because Marshall worked just one time with us, and Nasser, tomorrow will be the first [full] training.
“So, it's difficult to understand the time, to understand what we want from them, and the time to connect with their teammates. It will be difficult, but we’ll see.
“It is difficult for them to start. Maybe I will give them some time, but to start, no.”
On Cunha signing a new contract
“He’s a very important player for us. He’s committed, and I'm happy, very happy.
“I believe that with him, it’s better for us. It is better with him than without him, because he's a player who can decide the game in a second and the team needs his leadership also, on the pitch, outside the pitch, and this is a different player.”
On Mario Lemina leaving for Galatasaray
“The conversations that I had with Mario, he told me that he wanted to leave, and it meant that I didn't feel the commitment since the first day that I arrived in the club. When this happens, it is better to finish the relationship.
“But he was honest with me and I prefer this kind of person who is honest with me. But I want a healthy group. I want good energy inside the group.
“He is a very good player, but if his mind is not here, I prefer to have made this decision and I prefer to finish his relationship with the club, because I want everybody committed with the cause, with the team and with the targets.”
On Wolves Women’s FA Cup tie with Man United
“I wish them all the best. I will try to watch the game and to give them some good energy. I hope they can play a good game and win the game.”
