Wolves created chances in their numbers at Brighton & Hove Albion on Saturday but failed to find the back of the net and suffered defeat as a result.
However, Nuno remains upbeat going into this weekend’s clash with Tottenham Hotspur and now wants their hard work rewarded in front of goal.
“What the team has produced is enough chances, but we have to convert them,” he said. “It’s not a question of confidence, but a better touch, a better decision and sometimes you have to give credit to your opponents because they defended well, they are organised and put their bodies in the line.
“We’ve practised, repeated and insisted. We’ve adjusted, found solutions and worked hard, that’s the only recipe. When you train, you don’t only practise the physical and technical part of it, you work also on the mental part. If an action is not good enough, you have to repeat it and improve on it.
“The hardest part of football is putting the ball in the back of the net. It’s very important to score goals, we have been solid sometimes, but you always have to keep organisation. A clean sheet is the first stage to be able to compete until the end of the game and we’ll try to repeat it.”
Only four Premier League teams have conceded fewer goals than Wolves this season and Nuno has put more work in his side’s defensive solidity once again this week.
“When we speak about a clean sheet, it doesn’t mean you defend in your own box. The defensive tasks begin with the front three, we can totally free them as long as we keep organised. It doesn’t mean you have to defend more and not be expansive.
“You have a game plan and see what you can do, and your opponent will not let you do. It’s our job to try to create Tottenham difficulties on their building and movements, balancing every moment of the game, action after action.
“If you have enough knowledge of your own shape you’re in the right way, everybody knows their task and what to do in each moment of the game. We want to be active not reactive, it shows you your game plan is stronger than your opponent.”
Wolves welcome a Tottenham side who’ve enjoyed their best-ever start to a Premier League campaign, and picked up 15 away points, so Nuno knows the challenge ahead of his side.
“We are conscious that we are going to face one of the best teams in the league. There’s no doubt about the quality of their manager and squad, the players have been at the club for a couple of years now and the routines that Tottenham have are very strong.
“We’re going to face a very strong team and have to be ready for it. I know and admire Mauricio because I had the pleasure to be with him and his staff. The quality of the work they’ve been doing is amazing. There’s no doubt Tottenham play attractive and organised football.
“They are very competitive. On the pitch I see a very good team and that’s a reflection of the coach. The statistic I see is they’re the best team away from home in the league, which tells us a lot about what we’re going to face.”
