The Wolves head coach said the Brazilian does not ‘have a big injury’ and believes it will be touch and go as to whether Cunha could be among his squad for tomorrow night’s clash – the fourth of the season between his side and Jurgen Klopp’s men. Having won, lost and drawn in each of the three matches his side have played against Liverpool since he arrived at Molineux, Lopetegui is expecting another difficult and different task against the Reds.
On Cunha, Hwang, Boubacar and Chiquinho injury update
“He doesn’t have a big injury, but he was more or less difficult in these five days and tomorrow we are going to take the last decision. We are going to decide whether he can play or not, because he’s better, but I don’t think it’s going to be enough. Fortunately, it’s not serious, and now we are going to see if he’s able or not to play tomorrow.
“Hee Chan is out. We will see [when he’s back]. He’s had a hamstring injury, so we will have to wait one or two weeks more. Bouba is closer, but he has a little problem so he’s had to stop a little bit, maybe a few days, and then we will see next week if he can be able. It’s a different injury.
“Chiquinho is far away. He’s improving but far away. It’s a good thing for him [to be back on the grass], because he has suffered a lot and has had a lot of time out of the pitch, but he’s still too far away. We don’t know [if he’ll be back this season]. We will see.”
On Neto’s ongoing recovery
“Pedro is working better, he’s feeling better day by day and he’s closer to start helping us. We are happy for him and it’s a good thing for the team, for sure.
“He’s a good player for us. He’s able, he’s working well, he has played two matches with the under-21s which is a good thing for him and will help him to have more rhythm. Now he is ready to start coming with us and after we are going to see when and where he’s going to play.
“He’s working well and he’s in the normal way, but he needs matches to recover and keep his rhythm, which is normal.”
On gaining seven points in February
“For me, this is not the moment to make a summary about our season – the summary is in May and at the end of May when the season is end.
“Now is about to put the focus in the next match and don’t think in the back, think in front, because in front of us tomorrow we have a very exciting match against Liverpool and we have to be ready with our best face, trying to overcome a fantastic team.”
Another point on the board on Friday.
— Wolves (@Wolves) February 26, 2023
A new week ahead. More points to fight for 🐺 pic.twitter.com/SWAf4IHwQP
On another meeting with Liverpool
“It will be the fourth match we have played against them, and each of the three matches have been different. I know that tomorrow is going to be different again.
“It’s the same teams, but a different situation and a different competition, so we have to be ready for a new match, knowing the strengths and the team that we’re going to have in front of us that is Liverpool in Anfield. To be able to compete with Liverpool at Anfield, you have to be very close to perfection, so it’s going to be demanding tomorrow.
“When I look at a team, I don’t put the focus on the position of the opponent, I look at what kind of team we are going to play and I’m sure we are going to play against one of the best teams in the world, with fantastic players, a fantastic coach and tomorrow we are going to have a big demand, so the most important thing is to put the focus in our answers so we can play a good match in all of the phases.”
On facing the Reds at Anfield
“They play in the same way at home or away, but the difficulties of Anfield are clear, it’s a stadium where they push a lot and I have seen in the last match they played there against Real Madrid, I thought they played a fantastic first half, in my opinion, and they deserved a lot more, but this is football.
“Tomorrow I am sure we’re going to find a good team, a good environment and we have to be ready. We will try to play in the same way, it’s not the same to playing at home, of course, but we try.
“But it’s not only about us, it’s about the opponent too, and I believe tomorrow they are going to push us a lot and we have to be ready because it’s a very strong team and when they make a high press and high pressure, they are one of the best teams in the world.”
On the pressure facing the teams at the bottom
“This is our job – we live under pressure. This is our kind of job and kind of lives, so we have to get used to stay under pressure because we are playing in the Premier League and we want to continue playing here, but it’s going to be a very tough task.
“This is not only going to be for us, but for a lot of teams, for sure. It’s going to be a very long and hard race for a lot of teams, so we have to be ready from now until the end of the season.
“Each match is one challenge, one chance, and in the same way very difficult, because the teams in the Premier League are able to beat anyone, so we have to be ready.”
