Walter Zenga says he is relishing the pressure and expectation associated with being Head Coach of Wolves – and has shrugged off any early speculation about his position.
Having arrived in the hotseat only five days before the start of the season, Wolves made a promising start by taking 15 points from the first nine games, before back-to-back defeats prior to the international break against Wigan and Norwich.
Wolves return to action with Saturday’s big derby game at Aston Villa (5.30pm), and Zenga is confident he and his team can respond positively to any critics as they continue to develop.
“If I don’t accept that somebody can write something bad about me, or without information, I have to change my job!” says Zenga.
“I love when the people don’t like me. Do you know why? Because they give me more power to work better.
“If someone writes ‘Oh he didn’t win, it’s better that Mourinho comes’...
“Well if you’re thinking that Mourinho brings this team the Premier League after two months...welcome! I’m happy for them!
“My job is hard and more difficult because I watch the training, the game, the opposite team, so I don’t have time all the time to fix everything.
“But I love this kind of pressure, I love this job.
“I’m enjoying the challenge. This is my character – my strength is all about the enthusiasm and the passion. I create immediately the feeling between me and the club
“For a coach to know everything about his team he needs some months, not some days. It takes time.”
Work has continued at Compton Park since that Norwich defeat, with some internationals now having returned to the fold and others due back tomorrow.
One big positive has been striker Jon Dadi Bodvarsson getting an hour’s action for Iceland against Turkey on Sunday.
“Last week we did a nice, intensive, tactical, technical and physical week,” added Zenga.
“Now we await the last players back from international competition and from Thursday everybody will be here.
“All the players are o-k. Bodvarsson has played for Iceland – their game was eight days after our Norwich game.
“The first game (against Finland) he didn’t play, but the second he has and played 60 minutes, this is normal after eight days.
“His last game for us was against Brentford and the time in between is normal (for his injury).
“We hope he’s o-k for Saturday, yes.”
