Gary O’Neil described Wolves’ 3-0 win over Everton as his favourite performance of the season from his players as the Old Gold ended the year by claiming nine points from a possible nine.
Despite the players improving as a group and as individuals under O’Neil, the head coach insists the progression of the team is not down to him but because of the hard work and commitment the players put in every day, which culminated in the dismantling of the Toffees as the curtain was drawn on 2023.
On ending the year with three wins from three
“It’s been an incredible week. Getting nine points in six days, three games with a small squad, with players missing, it’s been incredible.
“The medical team and everyone that contributes to getting the team ready to go again, all the work that goes behind the scenes to get the boys up to speed each day has helped us today. We looked the team with the most energy and it was probably my favourite performance of the season today.”
— Wolves (@Wolves) December 30, 2023
On fighting as a team
“The togetherness is huge. We’ve suffered a few set-backs this year with results and performances that we didn’t like, and we’ve had to bounce back, but today, I really liked the understanding of what we needed to do.
“Everton were man for man against us and the quality of the pay the lads managed to produce was very high. Then when Everton switched to a four and we had slightly different questions posed of us, the lads found really good solutions again.
“I’m disappointed with the two goals that are marginally offside, especially Pedro’s because it would have been nice for him to get one on his comeback, but I thought we had great attacking play, lots of bodies in the box, so I’m really pleased.
“It’s my favourite one so far, which is big praise because we have had some good ones. Twenty-eight points from 20 games is amazing, so I’m delighted.”
On dedicating the win to Lemina
“He’s a big part of everything we do. There’s no way we’d be anywhere near 28 points without him. I know we’re enjoying this one and I know it’s hard when you mention him because we know he’s suffering, but we hope that with today’s result and how much the boys think of him gives him a small lift in what is a really difficult time for him.
“I spoke to him a little bit in the last day or so and he knows he has as much time as he needs to get himself to where he needs to be before he comes back and joins us again. Until that moment, he has our full support and our thoughts are with him and his family.
“The first thing the lads spoke about back in the changing room was Mario and I think that shows how much we think of him.”
💛 @LeminaM_13 pic.twitter.com/wH7TWWrrqm
— Wolves (@Wolves) December 30, 2023
On improving as a group and as individuals
“It isn’t me. It’s the group of players, their togetherness, their attitude, their work. It definitely isn’t me and this group had this in them.
“They’d shown glimpses of it before and maybe I’ve nudged them in the right direction and given them some guidance, but this is not because of me, this is a group who are showing they have real quality, real togetherness and can mix it up when they need to.
“It’s important we don’t get carried away because there’s still half the season to go, but it was a really good day and a really good week.”
On missing key players to January internationals
“I was going through some stuff from before this season and it was incredible the amount of pundits and people in the media who wrote this group off and thought we’d be relegated. Without Rayan, Bouba and Channy for the next month there will be huge doubts about whether we can keep it going and I look forward to working really hard to move them on again.
“Of course, it will be difficult. Rayan and Channy have been huge players, Bouba had a really good impact today off the bench, and with an already small group and with three key ones going away, it will make it tougher.
“But I’m looking forward to the group giving everything again until the end of the season and keep ploughing on. But I just love working with the current group and the players that I have.”
