VITOR PEREIRA PRESS CONFERENCE: LEICESTER V WOLVES

Afternoon, Vitor. First of all, congratulations and welcome to the Premier League. Easy first question. Why Wolves? And why do you feel this was the right fit for you?

Because it’s the Premier League and, in my opinion, the Premier League is the best league in the world. It has been my target for a long time.

It means that I’m in the right place with top-level players, high-level managers, and a strong organisation, and I’m very happy to be here.

I just wonder when you first heard of Wolves’ interest in you and how easy it was to leave Saudi Arabia where you were previously coaching?

I had some approaches from clubs in England, but Wolves took the step forward. I had a project in Saudi Arabia with Al Shabab, but with this opportunity, we cannot think twice, and I’m here.

You’ve travelled around the world in your coaching journey. I wonder which experiences will help you in this challenge at Wolves to guide them to safety?

I think all of them. They were different experiences, different levels of players, and different levels of leagues, but this is important.

Now I’m sure that everything will help me to do my job.

I wonder, with your conversations with the club, of course, January is approaching. I know you’ll be focused on the players here, but did you discuss the budget available in January if you want to strengthen the club?

You know, I think the club is open to doing it, but at this moment, it’s important to have new ideas and to understand how the players respond on the pitch.

It’s important that I have at least one week to understand what I can do with our players, to study their personalities and how they will understand what we need. After this, we will decide.

And just finally from me, what has your first impression been of the players? And one in particular, Matheus Cunha, will he be available on Sunday for you?

I’m not sure because I will not decide, but if he’s fit to play, he’s an important player for our team. The first impression is that I’m very happy.

Of course, every team can improve, and we will try to improve for sure. It’s important to regain confidence and get results, as results will bring confidence and provide them with clear ideas about what we want from them. 

Hi Vitor.  Have you had a chance to watch many of Wolves’ games to see what needs fixing?

You know, I studied the team before I accepted the job. My staff and I examined things, and of course, we need to improve some aspects of the game, but we have good players. A player with confidence can do a lot and can change everything.

At the moment, my idea is to create a tactical identity. In the first training session, we started to work on this identity, our way of playing, our game model. This is what we will do with clear communication. We will go on the pitch and begin taking steps to enhance this idea. We will try to put the players in comfortable positions and roles.

Who from your staff have you been able to bring to the club?

I brought five people with me; they have worked with me before, and this is my team. Each one has a specific role in the group. They are important because, alone, I cannot do it without the players, the staff, the club, and the supporters. We need to be together, and together we will succeed.

Nelson Semedo was made captain last week. Is that set to continue?

Nelson is a very good person with a strong personality, and now I’m trying to understand where the leadership is on the pitch, as this is important. The personality is key, but now I’m studying. It’s not time to decide; it’s time to gather information, and after that, I will decide on the captains.

You’ve had an amazing coaching career. Was it always your plan to visit so many countries and experience so many different cultures?

No, I remember my first step outside the country was to Saudi Arabia about 14 years ago. When I left Porto, my target was a club in England. I had a meeting at that time to come to England, but then a prince knocked on my door and convinced me, as I didn’t get the job in England, and after that, I never imagined I would go to Saudi Arabia.

You’re here now; good luck.  Vitor, it was lovely to see you come in with a big smile on your face. It’s been a long time since someone sat in that seat smiling like you have this morning. How pleased are you to be here, and how confident are you that you can get all of Wolverhampton smiling and keep them in the Premier League?

You know why? Because I spent the last 14 years of my career focused on coming to England, to be in the best league, to fight and compete with the best coaches. This is the seat I want to be in; I want to be in this league to compete and challenge myself, and I’m ready.

You inherit a difficult position. Are you confident that you can lift the players and help them survive? It’s not just about surviving; it’s a moment of responsibility, but it’s a good responsibility. Now, in my opinion, it’s time to give them confidence, to guide them like a GPS, to put them in the same direction, and to connect them. It’s very important to connect them and to play with confidence and courage, and this is what I want. Tactical quality and technical quality are essential because I want my teams to play good football with tactical organisation and the courage to play our game.

Final question from me: you have a wealth of experience from different clubs in various countries, but you have been to a lot of clubs in a short time. Should Wolves fans be worried that you might leave in the summer, especially if they don’t survive?

No, I hope not. My belief is that I will stay here for a long time and do a good job with them, with their help. Thank you.

You have a big game on Sunday against Leicester. Both teams have had a tough start to the season. How important is that game?

I think every game in the Premier League is crucial. A good result brings confidence, and this is important for us to believe in what we’re starting to build. It means we have an idea, a game model, a style of play, and results will give us the confidence we need to make them believe in the idea. This is important, and we need results right now.

Leicester have a new manager too, with new beginnings. Is there a tactical battle between the two of you?

Of course, but it’s not just between me and him or Ruud; it’s between Wolverhampton and Leicester, between the teams.

You mentioned that you have a model way of playing. Are the players here at the moment suited to that model, or will you need to change it?

I think, step by step, when you bring something in, you must understand what you have. It’s essential to make them comfortable in their positions and roles. If you ask me to do something I can’t do, it becomes a problem. Right now, I’m trying to understand what they can do; that’s why communication is important. I need to ask them to do certain things and see what they want to do and what they can do.

But the next step will be to strengthen the squad with players who fit the way I want to play, you understand? We need results to support this and push for this kind of game.

You’re giving the players a lot of information. Are they listening well?

Yes, very well. Because you need that. Yes, of course.

In my opinion, the two training sessions we’ve done so far, yesterday and today, were very open. They were focused because everyone knows we have a responsibility to improve, to try our best, and to work hard. It’s not easy to change a lot in a short time with just two training sessions. But from the first day to the last, we will work towards a way to play, understand?

What I want is that after some time, you will see Wolves playing the game of Wolves. When you watch Wolves, you will see a style of play and an intention.

Gary O’Neil mentioned last weekend that he didn’t think the answers were in the dressing room at the moment. Do you think they are in your dressing room now?

When results don’t come, it’s a problem. You start to lose connection. This is the right moment to reconnect them. This is when we need to give them confidence. Each person must take responsibility because it’s not just about the coach or one player; it’s about everyone at the club. We need to be humble, work hard, and know that we need to win games.

We will be close to winning games if we play good football, if we play with organisation, and if we play with heart. This is the most important thing for me right now.

Very quickly, Jose Sa and Sarabia were injured last weekend. Are they okay to play?

No, it’s not possible. He’s trying to recover, but with the calf, we must check.

I never push a player to play if they don’t feel ready. 

You’ve spoken about your love for the Premier League. Have you always followed it closely in your coaching career? What is it about the Premier League that you love in particular?

I’ve followed the Premier League since I started my career. Even when I was a player, I was aware of it. I started coaching because I needed organisation, and the Premier League, in my opinion, is the best league.

It’s the best league with a high level of tactical ideas. This is a significant challenge, but it’s a long journey to get here. I didn’t start my career yesterday. I’ve tried many things and gained a lot of experience, and I know how to start improving the level. I hope to do it with my experience.

Would you say it’s those tactical battles that you really love as a manager and coach? 

Because I’m a very strategic coach. I like to see good football with strong tactical ideas, but I always allow players the freedom to express themselves. The tactical approach should not restrict a player’s ability to express themselves.

But if you want to express yourself, you must do it for the team. Not just for individual glory, but to help the team and fit in with our tactical ideas. It’s not my game; it will be the team’s game. This is something we need to embrace together.

Is there pressure on you to get results straight away, even pressure you put on yourself?

The pressure I put on myself is bigger than what others place on me. I focus on the details. I’m someone who looks at the small details because they can make the difference in football.

These details can win or lose a game. I’m this kind of coach who pays attention to the details. I’m looking at everything, but I know the details can change things. You understand? I think I can help this team a lot. Thank you.