With the league now taking a break for the FIFA World Cup, that has provided the new head coach with a few weeks of added preparation time with his players, but the experienced Spaniard knows he and his coaching staff will need to adapt and learn the culture of English football if he is to help turn Wolves’ season around.
On adapting to the Premier League
“I need to know more about my players. This is the first task that we have and, in the end, choose the way to play. We are in the main league in the world and it’s not only about the physicality, obviously in the Premier League you have to be physical, but technically and tactically, because that’s why I want to be here in the Premier League.
“Each country has its characteristics, it’s different, I think this is part of the culture of the Premier League. But I am very happy and now, we are here, and we have to work very hard to adapt, to know more about the culture, to respect a lot the football culture, and to try to have our personality and to translate my personality and idea, my way to play football.
“But the main actors are on the pitch. We can only help them. They are the actors and we are going to try to convince them.”
On getting to work
“You enjoy more when you win and we need to win, it’s the most important thing now. To do that, we have to work a lot. But now we’ve lost players [to the World Cup].
“With the players here, we go to Marbella for three friendly matches, and after we start in the Carabao Cup. The team has ten days off, but we have to prepare, and we have a lot of work to do.”
On his first taste of English football
“All the coaches in the world have the same aim, to be part of the Premier League. That’s why I am very happy to be here.
“But this part is finished, now is the part to put the focus on work, to understand what’s happening to the team, how we want to improve these players, what we have to change, all these key situations.
“It’s the moment to have a big energy day to day in our daily work, in each training session, and think we are able to change that.”
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— Wolves (@Wolves) November 14, 2022
On the support of his backroom staff
“My staff were with me for a lot of time. I have taken on two more people, so we have a good mixture. I have people who have worked in England, which is important for me, to have this knowledge inside.
“I think he [Edu Rubio] can help us to understand some things quickly. I have worked in Portugal, I know when you go out of your home, you have to be aware and to be ready to change things and understand what’s happening.”
On the language barrier
“I have to improve. I have to see films and try to speak with my sons in English. Each coach has his time and I want to help my players.
“I think I can help with some things, but of course, when the matches start, the main actors are the players. We can help a little bit in the dressing room, but our intervention is in the week.”
