Neves: We can make a good season a great one

Ruben Neves is determined to help make Wolves’ good season a great one by securing a place in the FA Cup final come May.

The midfielder has impressed in the Premier League and on Sunday embarks on an FA Cup semi-final at Wembley, as Wolves face Watford. While pleased with his first season in English football’s top tier, Neves knows the opportunity ahead, where he and his team mates could make history as part of the pack.

On managing the occasion

“It’s been a great season for us, we are playing good, we are seventh in the league, and I think everyone is happy with the team, but it’s not enough for us. We want something more, we showed already that we’re onto something special, so we’ll try to do it on Sunday.

“Of course, it’s not another game, but we can’t think about it. We only can think that we have to play in our normal way, do our normal things, to try and achieve the win.

“Everyone is talking about it. It’s a great chance for us, but we have to be calm because we have to look at this game like another one. We have to play in the same way we’ve been playing.”

On the magic of the FA Cup

“When we were younger we saw Premier League and FA Cup games – the two most important trophies in the world of football in terms of clubs. It’s a good chance for us and we will do our best to achieve the final.

“Wembley is a big stadium. A beautiful stadium. I think everyone wants to play at Wembley and fortunately we have a chance to play a semi-final there. We have to play many minutes and have to be at our best to beat Watford.”

On Watford’s challenge

“They’re a very good team, everyone knows, they play very well. They won at Molineux in the Premier League, so we know the quality of them, but we have to think that we have quality as well and we already proved that we can play good, even against the teams that play like Watford.

“Fortunately, we beat Liverpool and Man United, two big games, and now we have another one – a different one. We are looking forward to it as usual, to try and win.”

On an extra man in midfield

“I’m accustomated to playing holding midfield, because in Portugal I used to play there. I’m really comfortable with the position. I think the coach changed and it was a really good change because it helped us out of a difficult part of the season.

“We had a bad run in October and November, so we had to find solutions to get back our performances and wins, and that was the way the coach could help us. Every team knows how we play now, so they are finding solutions to beat us.

“Fortunately, I have an opportunity to play with Joao (Moutinho). He’s a great player and we can always learn from him because he has a lot of experience and he helps us. I think any player that plays there will be great for Wolves, we are all prepared to play.”

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