Following the parting of ways with former boss Bruno Lage last weekend, Davis – who has managed the club’s under-18s for the past three years – and under-21 head coach James Collins have been tasked with leading the first-team in their trip to west London. Having previously worked in tandem in the Crewe Alexandra dugout, the pair will try to turn Wolves’ fortunes around as they look to extend the club’s unbeaten recent run against the Blues, with the help of former Chelsea man Diego Costa, who is returning to Stamford Bridge for the first time as an opposition player.
On being named interim head coach
“I was watching my grandson in Keele University on Sunday and then later that day, I got a call to come down Monday and meet with him [Jeff Shi] and discuss going forward. Then James was told a little bit later because we had a game against Man City in the under-21s.
“We spoke to each other to see what we thought and then on Monday we spoke again about what we were going to do the rest of the week. The players came in at 4pm and we had an opportunity to speak to them and assess where they were and how they felt.
“I spoke to the leadership group with James and we sat down with that group of players and found out more about what was happening and what they’re requirements were, so we could make some small changes this week. Those were the steps that we took and those were the right steps, because we hadn’t been around the environment, so we didn’t really know the mood until we were in amongst it. From that, we then shaped what we did in training.
“All we’ve been told is that we’ll be here this week and look after the Chelsea game and then beyond that it’s out of our hands. Our remit is to get the squad back together and try to make small changes and get small gains, if we can, within the squad. Beyond that, I’m not sure.
“I think it’s a great club and I’m very privileged to work here. There are so many good people here and you couldn’t help but love it here. Anyone who comes into this football club have got a great structure underneath to work with and grow. Whoever gets the job, it’s a fantastic club to come to.”
On managing his boyhood club
“It’s been a long time for me as a fan. I’ve supported this football club since six, so 50 years now, and I can’t describe how it feels. My dad brought me as a boy back in the 70s, so I remember a lot of good teams they’ve had here and although I’ve had my favourites, this is probably the most talented I’ve seen technically. Having been here for a week, they’re fantastic people as well.
“I came into the club four years ago after Nuno had taken them up to take the group who were not longer required in the Premier League and it’s so different. The technical side of the club, the players they’ve brought in have really raised the ability. As a player myself, when you train with those players, you become better and you have to become better because they rub off on you in a positive way. But what I’ve seen over the last four years has been exceptional from a fan’s point of view.
“I have also seen some great players in the past, John Richards being a favourite one of mine, along with many others, but the group we have is very capable and what they’ve done over the last four years, successive seventh place finishes, is exceptional from my point of view as a supporter. But obviously, we’re disappointed at where we are at the moment, and we want to get back to that.”
On Diego Costa returning to Stamford Bridge
“We’re fearful of him, never mind Chelsea. With it being Chelsea this week, and it’s also his birthday today, it’s a big weekend for him, but we’ve had to look after him. He wants more than we’ve given him and we have to be quite strong with that regards to where he is in his fitness because he’s not played a lot.
“He will play a part at some point tomorrow in that game and we hope he can make a difference as a target player and focal point that we’ve missed with Raul being injured, so we hope he can provide that tomorrow for us.
“In his words, he’s got ‘very hot blood’. So, read into that what you want. He’s a great character to have around and he’s lifted the group since he came in. We’ve only really got to know him this week and he’s been a breath of fresh air for us in terms of getting the squad together, getting everyone close and keeping them in high spirits, because that’s really important. He’s a very talented player as well and he still has some talent there and still has something in his legs.”
Wishing our number 2️⃣9️⃣ a very happy birthday!
— Wolves (@Wolves) October 7, 2022
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On finding the back of the net
“That’s something we’ve obviously looked at. We’ve looked at areas where we can make a small gain and in that area of the pitch, we’ve not been the best. Although our build-up play has been exceptional at times, when we’ve got into the final third, we’ve struggled to create those chances.
“And when we’ve had those chances, we’ve not quite finished them. We’ve done a little bit around that this week as all you can do is practice. We’ve done a couple of little things to change positions, move them around a little bit and just be positive with them.
“We need to get players in the box, we need to break lines with our runs, and we take up a lot of good, safe positions, but we don’t threaten the box, so that’s something we’ve looked at this week.”
On utilising the squad
“They’ll all play a part going forward. They’re all fit; Yerson [Mosquera], Toti could both figure tomorrow at some point and with Ruben [Neves] being suspended changes things a little bit for us in midfield, so we’ve had to look at that, as well with Diego [Costa], so we have some options.
“Ideally, we’d have a full fit squad to pick from, but the options we have, that’s what we’re working with this week and the spirits been good. We’ve been looking for a response, we’ve been looking for commitment and something different, a change or reaction, and we’ve got that. We’ve got the game to play tomorrow, and we’ll see if it carries on into that.
“We’ll be brave in our selections. It is a chance to change things, but if you change too much in a short space of time it can lead to a bit of confusion, so I think we’ve tried to run along the same sort of lines as what’s been done, but we’ve just added little things, or tried to add little things to help them smiling and enjoying.
“It’s a difficult situation, so you’ve got to assess the mood first and then see what the requirements are of the players, see what they need, and that’s what we’ve tried to do. We’ve been positive with them, they’ve been positive and reacted well, and we’ve put together a plan for the weekend.”
On bringing through quality academy talent
“We’ve brought ‘Hodgy’ [Joe Hodge] over, who we got from Man City. He’s been exceptional in the under-21s, so he deserves an opportunity to travel and he’ll be in the squad.
“The others have already been in the squad, Hugo [Bueno] and Chem [Campbell]. I thought Chem did exceptionally well when he came on at West Ham, so those players are starting to blossom a little bit now, players who I worked with initially. I think Chem was 15 when I started working with him and he looks like he belongs there now.
“They have to earn that right to move up and they have. Then they have to look like they’re part of that group, to remain in that group and I think having watched Hugo, Chem and Jackson [Smith] as well, they’ve done exceptionally well and haven’t looked out of place, and Hodgy is the next one who deserves that opportunity.”
