The Spaniard was pleased with the fight, spirit and effort put in by hist players at Molineux on New Year’s Eve, and although his unbeaten run as head coach came to an end, he says his squad will not have time to get downbeat with the trip to Aston Villa coming up on Wednesday night.
On feeling the disappointment of defeat
“We are not happy because we want to win. When you’ve lost, it always is difficult, because you never want to lose, you want to win every match, but today it was a big disappointment for the players because they have put in an enormous effort against a very good team, and we showed we are able to compete with any team, but it was a pity.
“We deserved a better scoring game and now we are disappointed, but not with our work or our focus.
“We have belief and that is why we have to look for the future. Of course, today is a pity because the players put in an enormous effort for the team, and sometimes you deserve one better.”
Thank you for you support, today and throughout 2022.
— Wolves (@Wolves) December 31, 2022
We'll see you back at Molineux next year.
💛👏 pic.twitter.com/kJMNdrLTiY
On struggling to find the net
“I think the goals are coming after the good work. We have done good work focusing on the opposite goal, working as a team in a lot of moments of the game, so we did well to try to overcome a big team like Man United.
“Maybe we can have in the final few metres in the box the last decision could have been better in five or six good situations, so we still have to improve that.”
On searching for an equaliser
“In the last minutes, when we are losing, maybe we have a big perseverance to arrive in the opposition box, and maybe we can play calmer and then we are in a better position of the goal. But I am happy with their effort and their will to win.”
Getting his message across 🗣️ pic.twitter.com/XNpBxe3cWt
— Wolves (@Wolves) December 30, 2022
On staying balanced
“You cannot get too down when you lose. I said after Everton that just because we had won, we were not in heaven and because we lost today, we are not in hell. We are balanced in thinking for the next match, knowing that the only way to improve is to work a lot, have belief and improve.
“We don’t like to lose and now we are sad, but only for today. Tomorrow, we have to be thinking of the next match, as this season is going to be a very long and hard race, so we have to be ready for it.”
On looking ahead to Villa
“I don’t think about the table, I’m only thinking to improve in each match and be able to overcome the other opponents. I’m thinking only in the next step, and the next step is Aston Villa. This is the only way.”
