Gary O’Neil knows his Wolves players cannot afford to make any ‘silly errors’ which cost them last weekend if they are to claim a Christmas Eve win over Chelsea this weekend.
The Old Gold face the Blues in a first Premier League fixture on 24th December for almost two decades, and although O’Neil acknowledged the difficulties the fixture poses to supporters, he believes once the game gets going, the atmosphere from the Molineux stands will be as raucous as his side have been used to which has aided their current seven-game unbeaten home run.
With Chelsea arriving at Molineux off the back of successive wins during the last week, O’Neil is under no illusion how tough the match will be for his players, but the head coach has been boosted ahead of kick-off after top scorer Hee Chan Hwang signed a new five-year deal with the club.
On the start of a busy Christmas period
“I’ve had busy periods with groups in the past, but because we’ve still got a few injury issues, with a squad not overly big, so trying to plan minutes and who might play what is probably not the best way to do it with this group, so we’ll take every game as it comes.
“We’ll play the Chelsea one and we’ll see where we end up with the lads fatigue-wise and injury-wise, and then move into Brentford and see where we are again.
“The festive period is a tricky one for us because our games have been crammed into a smaller period than most, most teams have eight days to play their three games and ours has been trimmed at either end so just six days to play our three, which will be a test, but one that I’m looking forward to.”
On Chelsea’s threat
“They’re a good side, obviously, and I know they’ve had something like 11 injuries and they’re in a difficult spell, but watching their games and you see the amount of depth they have, even in the cup the other day, when they needed a goal – even with the injuries – they still had hundreds of millions of pounds worth of talent to bring on, so they’ve got a good squad that are finding their way
“It’s clear now what they’re trying to do and they’ll definitely finish higher in the league than where they are now. They’re a team who’s improving and will continue to improve as they’ve got a good coach as well.
“It’s a tough test for us, but we’re back at Molineux, we’re seven unbeaten at home, we’ve made it a good place for us this season, and we’re looking to continue that, but of course it will be a tough test and a game where we will need to be at 100 per cent. No silly errors like we made last weekend.”
On counter-attacking against the ‘big six’
“They’ve tried to be the dominant team in every game so far, even against the big lads, as you’d expect with the quality they have. That doesn’t mean that it’s easier, just because we’ve managed to win a couple against the good sides, it’s still a real tough one.
“They’re not a team you’d choose to play, but we understand the challenge and the lads have responded well to the challenges so far and we need them to respond again. It will need to be a complete performance from us, which we’ve managed to produce a couple of times already at home against some of the big sides, but it will need to be again.
“I know the lads are looking forward to it, as am I, and with it being Christmas Eve, there was a mixed feeling around supporters with there being a football match on Christmas Eve, but when it’s on and we’re in the stadium, if we can start the performance in the right way, I’m sure the atmosphere will be absolutely fantastic, like it always is.”
Our leading @premierleague goalscorer this season.
— Wolves (@Wolves) December 21, 2023
Secured for the future 🔒 pic.twitter.com/HH3YVVWcM6
On playing on Christmas Eve
“Christmas has always been a thing that just happens while I’m doing my job. That’s how it is. It doesn’t make too much different to me whether it’s Christmas Eve, Boxing Day. There’s going to be a load of work that needs to be done over those days, so it doesn’t really make any difference to me.
“I understand the fans maybe not wanting to travel on Christmas Eve, but once we’re in the stadium, if we can put on a performance like we have done in recent home games I’m sure the atmosphere will be fantastic again and hopefully a positive result so everyone can enjoy their Christmas Day.”
On Hwang’s new contract
“I’m delighted for him. He’s worked extremely hard. He’s given me, the staff and his teammates absolutely everything since I’ve been here and has obviously scored some really important goals. I’m delighted for the club to have secured his services for longer, and he’s a great guy.
“He came looking for me and the staff to thank us all on the hard work that we’ve done with him to help him earn his new contract, so that just speaks a lot about what Channy is and how important he is to the group. He’s an excellent, great guy and I’m delighted that when someone puts as much in as he does is rewarded with goals, assists and a new contract.
“I’m not sure it’s selling him the dream. It’s showing him a way we try to work and he can see the direction that the club is trying to go in. We’re still very early in that, we’re very early in the transition from what the club were over the last few years to what we’re trying to be now, but Channy understands that.
“He knows how important he is in it, and by the look of how he’s training and performing, he has real confidence in what we’re trying to do, and I’m hopeful that’s one of the main reasons he’s decided to stay with us for the next five years.”
