In his first interviews as new Wolves head coach, Gary O’Neil has outlined his plans for taking the club forward, insisting he will be doing everything possible to give supporters a team they can take pride in.
Having met his new playing squad and staff members at Compton Park on Thursday morning, the head coach was straight to work as he prepared the team ahead of Monday night’s Premier League opener against Manchester United at Old Trafford, but speaking to the press following training, O’Neil admits he was delighted to be given the opportunity to lead Wolves into the new season.
On joining Wolves
“I’m delighted to be at such a big football club with the talent that we have in the group. We have fantastic supporters who are desperate to get behind the team and have a team that they can be proud of, and I’m privileged that I get the opportunity to make sure we put that all together.
“Just over a week ago I received a phone call that there might be some changes being made at Wolves and was asked to come into the club about what it may look like moving forward.
“With it being such a big club, with such a talented group and an incredible fan base, it was an easy answer for me to say yes and that I’d love to have a chat and see where the club was looking to go and see if I fit.
“Now that decision has been made and it’s up to me, the coaches and the players to go and implement what we think is possible with this group this year.”
On the pull of the Old Gold
“The quality within the group, there’s some fantastic players in there, and the support I witnessed as both an away player and an away manager, the home support and the backing that the side get from the fans at Molineux is incredible.
“The size of the club, the history of the place, it’s a fantastic opportunity for me to continue the work that was started last season. It’s a big, big football club and I’m really looking forward to being a part of it.
“I’ve been to this football ground with other teams in the past as a player and as a coach and always felt like they had incredible support from the fans. That will be important to us this season because a great home support can give you such an advantage when they are being what you’re trying to do and behind the players.
“I understand that we’ve got to play our part in that, but I want to create a real togetherness this year because there’s some challenges out there which we’re going to have to attack as a group. But I look forwards to seeing how far we can push it through the players and what we can achieve.”
Arriving for work 👋 pic.twitter.com/zjR3FXBG2n
— Wolves (@Wolves) August 10, 2023
On aims for this season
“It’s very difficult on my first day to outline exactly what those are. Of course, you have an opinion from the outside watching Wolves and having prepped hard to playing against them last season. But it’s nowhere near what you start to find out once you’re in and you start to work with people every day and you start to see traits and certain qualities.
“We’ve lost a couple of players since then, but a lot of work went into preparing that first game against Wolves as Bournemouth manager, so I understand where they were and the qualities they have.
“But now is not the time to look at where we can finish and what we can achieve. My main aim is to get the team in a very good place and make sure we can perform week in week out. We’re got to be the best versions of ourselves to give ourselves an opportunity to win every single game and then see where that takes us.”
On the atmosphere within the squad
“It’s a good group, they’re together, and although there’s been some negative noises from outside, you would never know that from being inside the camp.
“I thought they were excellent this morning and it was a good first training session and the lads worked very hard. The atmosphere around the place is very good, so it’s my job now to make sure it stays that way and we create a real togetherness with not only the playing staff but the staff around the training ground and the staff at the stadium.
“It’s also really important that we get the fans with us as well, which I’m sure they already are, and they always have been when I’ve come here, so it would be incredible support for the boys to have the fans right behind them the whole way through.”
Taking his first session 📸 pic.twitter.com/ORWTKFy3lf
— Wolves (@Wolves) August 10, 2023
On arriving ahead of a new season
“The group have been working in a certain way under a different leadership for the last six weeks and now we have a game coming in three or four days against a very good side.
“There’s not loads of time to get them exactly where I want them to be, but I’m just trying to assess exactly where they are and what it feels like at the moment. As the time goes on and we progress, I’m very confident we can get the group to where we need them to be.
“It’s a big game coming really quickly so there’s no time to rest or settle in. We’re straight into it.”
On his message to the Wolves fans
“Me and my staff are going to work every moment to give them a team they can be proud of and we’re going to need them, 100 per cent.
“In my experience managing Bournemouth and playing for some other sides in the Premier League, having your home support around you can make a massive difference, so it’s really important we get them on side at Molineux, we get their backing, and I can assure them I’ll be doing everything I can to give them a team they can be proud of.”
