Academy graduate Bueno had been a regular in the gold and black line-up having been given his senior debut in October, and although Lopetegui acknowledged the defender’s absence will be an unfortunate blow, with just three days between fixtures, the head coach knows his whole squad will have to be prepared and ready to take their chances when called upon.
On Bueno’s hamstring injury
“He's out unfortunately for us because he was working in a very good way in the last matches. When you’re talking about a hamstring, it depends on each person, and maybe three or four weeks, but we will see.
“It’s a pity, but with one player out, it brings one player in and we have to think in the players that are ready, and wish him the best of luck to come back as soon as possible.”
On Cunha, Boubacar and Hwang’s recovery
“Cunha’s better, he has worked with us and I think he’s going to be ready. Bouba is closer, but he’s not ready to start with us.
“He’s getting better, but he’s had a little problem in the last part of his recovery, but now he’s closer to start with us, and Hwang is the same. He’s better and closer, but it’s not enough time.”
David Jones with a lovely match-winner against Spurs back in 2010 🤩 pic.twitter.com/DGLwrPFpwt
— Wolves (@Wolves) March 3, 2023
On getting over a defeat
“In the next day. This is mandatory for a coach and for the players too. For me, this is an important part of our work, and you have to know that you have a match in two days, so you have to be ready to prepare the next match and think that you’re going to be better and try to help the players to be ready.
“Each match is different in that we have played very well against Fulham and we deserved more, in my opinion, and after we have competed for 60 minutes in a good way against Liverpool. Once we suffered the goal, it was a different match, but we are talking about Liverpool. But these games are all part of the past and tomorrow we play one other match, a very important match.
“When we’ve won, we don’t stop thinking about what we want, we work to improve the team and be aware and alert of the things we have to improve, and when we lose, we’re in the same way. Each match is different, each match is a challenge, and we have to be ready.”
On quick turnaround affecting preparations
“It’s different, but you have to try and take advantage. There are important considerations that you need to take, because there are players that would have played just one or two days before, so you have to do different things.
“But you have to try to prepare the next match in a different way, because the physical condition of the players is important. The technology is working very fast and of course we have more possibility to know [their fitness]. In the past, you had to just talk to the player and ask him how he felt and see if his opinion was true or not!
“But you have to use the technology because it is always going to help you. Now you can show players why you are making a decision and show them exactly what you want which will help the players more.”
On Antonio Conte missing tomorrow’s match
“We are people too. We have feelings, we have family, but this is normal. We have to accept this part of our job because I have the same problems as everyone, with family and with life. We are not robots.
“This is why I wish the best for Antonio because he’s an incredible coach and I have a big respect for him, as a coach and as a person too.
“He is one of the best coaches in the world and his career has always seen him at the top, so I hope that he is ready, as soon as possible, to start working again. This is the main thought.”
On increasing Wolves’ scoring record
“I prefer to put the focus in the good things of the team, which I have done. We are working to improve in all the phases of the play.
“Of course, the goal [scoring] is the main aim, but it’s not the only aim – you have to improve in all areas and then the goal is the consequence after a lot of things, then after, don’t suffer goals.
“Football is about not suffering goals and scoring goals, but all these things depend on your work, so we have to continue working in the same way, and try to improve the team, knowing that we are able to do it.”
