Julen Lopetegui highlighted the spirit of his players to come from behind to earn a crucial, late point at Nottingham Forest thanks to Daniel Podence’s equaliser.
The Portuguese struck seven minutes from time to earn Wolves a big point in their quest to avoid the drop from the Premier League, and that goal came after the head coach took risks in a bid to avoid defeat. The Spaniard made a number of attacking changes and saw Forest pass up opportunities on the break to make it two, before Wolves struck to earn a point which he believes was deserved.
On getting a crucial point
“To get one point here in the end, when you analyse the match, is not a bad thing, to have one point more. Maybe in the first half I think we didn’t deserve to be losing 1-0. When you start losing here it’s very difficult to change the score. That’s why in the second half we took a lot of risks, and they had counter attacks to score the second, but we had to do it, and in the end fortunately we scored.
“We fought a lot, it’s not easy to play here, with this environment in this kind of match. They have very, very good players, they’ve invested a lot of money in this team, and in the end it’s one point more. I’m happy with the character we showed in the bad moments of the team, but this is the Premier League, we want to be out of the relegation and have to show this character until the end. Each match is going to be one more final and now we have to think of the next.”
On the response to going behind
“I think we overcame one bad moment when they were winning 1-0, it’s not easy to draw and to take positive things. I highlight the character of the team. We didn’t deserve to be losing 1-0, we had three clear chances and they scored with the one they had, this is one of the skills of the team. They have this quality, but in the second half we took a risk, they had counter attacks to make the second, fortunately they didn’t, and we scored a very good goal with Danny Podence.
“These kinds of matches, in this way, they have fantastic players on the pitch and have spirit, so we have to manage this, to balance, and the players tired to do it. It’s not easy but it’s one point more, we have to continue, we have nine finals in front of us. It’s going to be Chelsea, one by one, step by step, putting the best, this is the only way I know.”
On a crucial equaliser
“It’s important for us that any player can score. He scored, he was focused when we needed him, and it was very important for him and the team.
“I think in the first half the clearer chances are ours. One post, one cleared from Adama, one cleared from Nunes. They scored with one counter attack, they are very strong in this way. Maybe the second half is different.”
On Neves collecting a tenth yellow
“It’s a pity for us, he’s one very important player for the team and for us, but he has been a risk and now we have to find one other solution for the next match. Now, he’s played the last matches with a risk and he’s going to be out for two matches. We have to choose one other player to prepare and compete, to believe in him, to trust in him, because we have more player. It’s a pity, but this is the situation.”
On Toti’s performance
“It’s not easy to stay without playing a lot of times and after be ready when the coach needs him, or the team needs him. He’s showed in two positions a good performance. When he was young, he played there [left-back] and we tried to work with him in training sessions. He, of course, has different characteristics of the rest of the full-back. Today I think it was a good thing to have this kind of player on the pitch and after he continued as a centre back. “
On taking the positives forward
“I don’t think about the two games, I think only about the next game. Each match in the Premier League is a war. It’s very difficult for a lot of reasons, that’s why we have to put out focus 100 per cent in each match. We have to be ready to prepare well for the next match. It’s going to be very difficult each match to give our best.”
