Vitor Pereira insists his Wolves side will turn things around if they match the energy and spirit which was on show at St James’ Park on Saturday afternoon.
The Old Gold were narrowly beaten by Newcastle United, but remained in the game and had chances, particularly early on, which could have made it a different game on Tyneside.
The head coach is relishing a full week’s work with his players, having only worked with eight first-team players last week, but left Newcastle encouraged and is now focused on putting the work in at Compton Park before a return to Molineux next weekend.
On the performance
“I’m very happy with my team, proud of my players, the way that we faced Newcastle away, full stadium, but I saw my team playing with bravery, tactical organisation, creating problems, strategical problems and we created two chance to score before them.
“This is the time to be together, not to complain, because I'm very proud. I believe that we can increase the level of the team if we have time to work with the team, if we had time to work on the pitch, we can increase the level.
“The first week we will have time to be together and to work together on the pitch, it will be the next week for the first time in this season. What I saw this game was tactically, mentally, a team with energy, with spirit, with belief in themselves, and this is for me is the way to increase our level and to start to getting points.”
On confidence in turning things around
“Last season we had defeats in four games in a row, but we never lost our focus. We never lost our way to improve. This is the way to improve, mentally and tactically speaking. It means that we know what we must do with the team, and the team knows what we can do to improve, and this is time to be patient and to support the team.
“I just want to finish a game proud of my players, proud of my team, and today I'm proud of my team. Today, I'm happy. Of course, worried because we didn't get any points, but this is the way, I want to see my team competing like this.”
On the formation change
“We need to do it. With the same base, we can change the system, because this is something that I thought last season, but it was not the time, because we didn't have time to work on systems. Now, I think with the same base, we can create surprises for the opponent.
“When we analyse opponents, we try to explore the spaces that they will usually explore, and we try to control the best players. We try to control the movements of the other team. But if you’re not sure how they play, I think it is an advantage for us.”
On Krejci and Arokodare debuts
“We spent the last two weeks working with eight players. It's better to start with the players that stayed with me for a few days and try to prepare with eight for the match against Newcastle.
“After, we need a striker. We had one training with Tolu. He’s a different player, he’s physically strong, he gives us the possibility to play long ball and to hold this ball and to give time for us to appear. He did well, of course he is not in the physical condition to do better.
“Krejci can play as a midfielder, can play as a central defender, with quality, with good decisions, because he has the skills and is good for us because he is a player that can do more than one positions.”
