In his programme notes for the visit of Aston Villa, Julen Lopetegui has spoke about the impact Unai Emery has had at Villa Park while urging the Wolves supporters to give their all from the stands as the Premier League season enters the home straight.
***
Good afternoon and welcome back to Molineux as we face another important match at our home against Aston Villa.
Our focus turned to this afternoon’s match straight after we came off the pitch against Brighton. We may have lost one battle, but we are still in the middle of the war, and we have to put everything into today’s match if we want to achieve our aim at the end of the season.
Of course, it has been a hard week because none of us were happy with the result or the performance last weekend, but we must put that behind us with the aim to rise up and compete with a big energy and a big spirit this afternoon, knowing that there are three very important points in front of us which are going to demand our very best.
We want to achieve these three points not because of the last match, but because we always want to win the next match ahead of us. Always.
There are a lot of teams trying to be safe from the threat of relegation and we are at the last step now, but that last step is always the most difficult. That’s why we have to be aware of all the work that is in front of us, and all together, creating the right environment with our fans.
Now is the moment we need – more than ever – our fans, our environment, and the big spirit that we have at Molineux, knowing we are going to play against one of the two best teams in the Premier League during the second half of this season, and I welcome Unai Emery, his staff, players and supporters from Aston Villa to Molineux today
We are aware that they lost their first match after 11 against Manchester United last weekend, but they deserved more from that game, and this is the quality of opponent we are going to find this afternoon.
They have changed and improved a lot since we last played them. They have found a line-up which works very well for them and they have been able to repeat this team often, so this has led to an automatised spirit and feeling between the players. Their squad has a big quality and Unai is a very experienced coach, so we have a very hard challenge in front of us.
But it’s a challenge which we need to embrace because we have come a very long way in the last five months. When I first arrived here, we were so far away from staying in the Premier League and achieving our aim, and now, we have the chance to achieve that – but we haven’t done it yet.
That is why I want to remind everyone that the aim is for all of us; for the club, for the players, for the fans, and we want to create this spirit and environment which we have seen so often at Molineux once again today to help us get across the finish line.
In today’s match, we know we are going to have good moments, but there are also going to be bad moments, so we need the help of you, our fans, to push us through until the final whistle because we can only achieve our aim if we all pull together in the same direction.
On Wednesday evening, I was saddened to hear of the untimely passing of Vicky Wright, the daughter of Wolves and England’s longest-serving captain Billy Wright.
Although I never got the chance to personally meet Vicky, many of my colleagues here at the club worked with her on several projects regarding her father as she passionately ensured the legacy Billy built here at Wolves would forever be remembered.
Vicky was a well-loved and truly inspirational person, and I would like to pass on my condolences on behalf of Wolves to her friends and family at this sad time.
Thank you for your great support, as always, and enjoy the game,
Julen.
***
Supporters can find the head coach's notes, as well as a host of bespoke content for the visit of Aston Villa, in the latest matchday programme, which is available to purchase here for just £4.
