Vitor Pereira said the energy which fired his side to victory in the head coach’s first experience of Molineux came from the supporters.
The Portuguese led his new side to back-to-back victories over Christmas, with the Boxing Day victory over Manchester United his first game at Molineux. Matheus Cunha and Hee Chan Hwang scored the goals and, although he’s pleasantly surprised by the connection he’s already built with the Old Gold supporters, Pereira knows how important they’ll be for the remainder of the season.
On a first win at Molineux
“It’s a fantastic feeling because of the spirit of the team. We can see that the players suffer together. They are ready to run, to fight, to compete for each ball, and this is the click for the confidence. I feel that they have confidence to play, to win the duels, this is the most important for me. I feel the energy of the supporters and the atmosphere is special here. I'm very happy inside.”
On his first taste of Molineux
“The chemistry between the supporters and the coach takes time to get. This is a surprise for me, because since the first day, I think they started to sing my name. This is special. The energy came from them. Good energy to fight for them. This is beautiful.
“I used to see the Boxing Day on the sofa on the TV and I never lose my focus when I want something. I work, I work, I work, and one day I will be there. Inside of me, I knew that one day I will be here to compete and to show my work. And this is my time.”
What a moment 💛 pic.twitter.com/7To92MMHQS
— Wolves (@Wolves) December 26, 2024
On Cunha’s impact
“He's a top player. He's a special player. He can do things that can make the difference in the small details. Of course, we analyse every match, and all the staff try to understand the movements or the spaces that we can explore. We try to not allow them to do it against us. This is football, sometimes it happens, other times no. With this kind of player, the things can happen.
“About leadership, I'm discovering day by day the leaders inside the team. I feel that they are connected. They are in communication. They want to do something and change the things. This is important.”
On the celebrations for the second goal
“Doyle is a special player with a special character. He is a team player who wants to help every time, it doesn't matter if it’s five or 10 minutes or 90 minutes, he’s the same person every time, with a great energy, the true energy that we need in this team. That's why this feeling at the end of the game, you feel the energy together.”
On another important clean sheet
“It’s very important for us to feel the confidence without the ball, we cannot press every time, we need to know the moments to press and the moments to wait as a block, and if they come in our block or in the back of our block, we must come back together, as a team. This is what we are trying to increase. It's not it's not about tactics, it's not about spirit.”
