Nuno: “It’s not a party, it’s a football game.”

Nuno Espirito Santo believes that his players have the ability to cause Birmingham City problems, but he called for concentration as Wolves prepare to face their local rivals on Sunday at Molineux (12pm).

On the back of Wednesday’s 2-0 victory over Derby County, Wolves will confirm promotion to the Premier League should they pick up a win against Birmingham, regardless of any other results in the Sky Bet Championship.

Speaking ahead of the game, Nuno called for focus from his players as expects a  tough test from Birmingham who are fighting at the opposite end of the table.

“The players have had the ability to know what they can control is inside the pitch,” he said. 

“They know what they do on the pitch will impact what is happening in the stands. 

“It’s not a party, it’s a football game. 

“We know that Birmingham are fighting for their lives, it means that we have to fight also at the same intensity they’re going to. 

“We have the talent to create things that breaks them down but first we have to be intense, organised, stay in shape, discipline - all these things that I’m always saying because this is the way we see football. 

“The players are ready - more important is not what people say around us, it’s about the way we think and we know that we have a job to do on Sunday.

“We are ready, we have no problems or injuries, players have been recovering. ]

“Two days ago we had a match, we know that in two days we have another match so it is the moment to recover well and prepare well for Sunday’s game, Saturday is a very important day for us.”

Throughout the season, Nuno has been keen not to single out individual’s impact on games and emphasised the importance of the squad.

He says that the characteristics of the players as well as the bonds between them are crucial to the success of the team.

Nuno continued, “the team is always on my mind from the beginning and it will stick until the end because nothing is achieved individually. 

“Football is about the squad, about the players that don’t play, about the players that do play.

“More times, the spirit between them, the bonds they create and the friendship - this is the most important thing.

“One of our things is to be brave and stay humble, it’s all about the team - they are all words that means a lot to us. One of them is being brave.”