VITOR PEREIRA’S PRESS CONFERENCE: WOLVES V SPURS

Well, the sun has been shining this week, and you’ve had three wins in a row. Have you noticed a happy, relaxed atmosphere at the training ground?

If you’re relaxed, that’s a mistake. It’s my responsibility to not let them relax because the next game will be tough for us.

You were three and a half years old the last time Wolves won four games in a row in the top flight. How does making a bit of history sound this weekend?

We need to focus on the three points, and we will face a very good team, a strong team. I watched them yesterday. They are on fire. Of course, they are all playing, and I believe that even if the coach makes some changes, they are still strong because they have a very good squad. We need to be ready for this kind of team.

We cannot relax because we are still in the fight. You mentioned they have a very good squad, and they’re in the Europa League quarter-finals.

Why do you think they’ve found it difficult in the Premier League this season?

In my opinion, it’s because I know the coach. I’ve known him for a long time, since the Japanese team. He’s a fantastic coach with great ideas, but it’s a difficult season for them.

However, they are still hungry. Yesterday, I saw a team full of hunger, and that’s important. We need to maintain our level, our ambition, and stay committed and mentally prepared to face this team.

Would you consider Ange a friend since you go back that far?

I like him. I like him as a person. He understands the pressure here; it’s tough to keep the balance. Sometimes we lose that balance, even I do.

You talked last week about the connection with the supporters. It seems to be getting stronger week by week, and the players connect with them.

If we win, it’s easy. If we lose, it’s difficult.

But I agree with you; we have a good connection. It was at a low point when I arrived because of the results. Most of the time, the problem is that I like to be with the supporters after we win. We need to feel the energy and connect with them.

We need to make them proud of our work. Now, I feel that energy and connection. We are happy, but we haven’t finished yet. Together, we are stronger.

Is it because the results help? They can see a team that gives everything, works cohesively, and tries their best for the club and for you.

Of course. When you play with your soul, this is the energy you send to them. The energy they send back is the same.

If we go out there relaxed and don’t play with courage or our style, that’s not the spirit I want. I want a team that has confidence and fights until the last minute for the result. A lot of that confidence comes from how well you’ve been defensively.

Before you came in, the record was disappointing, especially concerning set pieces. How did you rebuild that confidence and stop being an easy touch?

Right now, tactically and mentally, we are in good shape.

When we arrived, we came with the idea to sell, a tactical idea. To convince them, we need to prove that we are on the right path with results. Then we correct things on the pitch and through video sessions. We focus the team and build their confidence to play our way, create identity, and believe in it. It’s not magic, but with small things, we can connect with the players.

In terms of relationships, we can connect with people. With small actions, doing things together is important. In my opinion, the most important connection happens when we suffer together. It’s not just during celebrations. It’s when the team is working together to overcome challenges. If you see the team trying to help one another, running hard, and supporting each other after mistakes, that’s the true spirit of a team.

It’s helped that you’ve been able to field the same team in the last few games. Do you have any fresh injuries?

No, just Pedro today. I think he twisted his ankle.

Is Matheus back?

Yes.

Will he come straight into the team?

No, he’s working hard to prepare himself to help the team. We won the last three games playing consistently, both tactically and mentally.

It’s fair to keep going with the same team. That’s my opinion. This is football. This is commitment and leadership. Matheus will come to help us. He understands. I had a conversation with him. But I will stick with the same team.

Thank you very much. It’s been quite a while since Matheus played in those four games. It’s been six weeks. You’ve done a lot in that time. Has the shape and method of the team changed much since we last saw Matheus play?

Yes, I think so. Tactically, when we attack, we’re doing different movements. I’m asking different things now.

What happens is a team is not something closed off. A tactical system shouldn’t limit individual qualities. When you add more to the system, it shows that we can do many different movements. We are trying to improve our style of play, especially with the ball. While he’s training, he knows what we expect from him at this moment.

When you try new things in games, you learn a lot. It’s not an experiment because you know what you’re looking for, but new ideas can spark from what you see in action. Of course. Sometimes we try new things, and the test is the game. In the game, we need to push a little more and keep trying. If the players aren’t comfortable, it’s better to go back to simpler things.

The challenge is doing the simple things well. We’re at a point in the season where we can create. I enjoy creating. Each season, we try to create something new, aiming to make that piece a masterpiece. That’s how I see football.

Does that mean you sometimes ask players to do something new?

Yes. Some players have had experiences where they now play in different roles because we start demanding more from them. For example, players who typically play on the left may start playing on the right or vice versa. Now I’m trying to add more diversity to the system.

Imagine asking Rayan not to play outside every time but to come inside. The team needs to understand that when he comes inside, someone else must go outside. This is how we can create surprises for our opponents.

This is the moment of the season when I’m demanding different things, and I think the players now feel confident to do it.

The teacher in you is coming out. You’ve been a teacher; these are the same skills.

I am a teacher, and I’m starting to become a manager in new teams. It’s important because you can teach. We can learn every day. I learn from experience, trying new approaches, and this is football for me. Thank you.