Nelson Semedo insists the Wolves players are still very motivated heading into the final two matches of the Premier League season, despite knowing they cannot either achieve European football or be relegated.
The captain is adamant that the under-par performance against Brighton & Hove Albion last weekend was just a one-off and there will be no repeat showings on Tuesday night as Wolves travel to FA Cup finalists Crystal Palace or in the final match of the season at home to Brentford next weekend.
On finishing the season on a high
“We are positive. We’re positive because in the game against City, we did a good job. Although we lost the game, we with good sensations. But the last game [against Brighton], that wasn't us, to be honest.
“I don’t think we were in our best version of ourselves, so we just have to make sure that everybody comes back to that best version, try to win the game on Tuesday and give their 100 per cent to bring the three points home.”
On not fizzling out into the summer
“I can understand why people would think that, but we’ve still got things to play for. It’s the difference between finishing say 16th or 13th. Obviously, there are things to play for and you’ve got to make sure you give everything you can till the end of the season.
“We cannot have a middle term – you cannot come with three or four games before the season finishes and say the season is over because we’re saved from the relegation or we’re not going fighting for Europe. We still have to do our best to win the games.”
On motivating the squad
“Honestly, that’s what I’m trying to do in my ways. I’m trying to push everybody, even myself – I’m trying to really push as hard as I can out of myself. We’ve got one last push to come, because we know how important it is to finish well.
“Obviously, we made like six wins in a row, so I know how important the last image is, so we have to make sure that we finish well in these two games that we have next week.”
On facing Palace after an FA Cup final
“You can have both perspectives. I think we’ve got to go there and think in ourselves. We’ve had a big break now since Brighton, it’s going to be like 10 days, so physically, we have to be fresh, and mentally we have to be stronger, we have to be back to us and show our character.
“It’s a tough team to play, especially in an away game, but if we are in our best level, we can do it, and that’s the thing we have to concern ourselves about. We have to try to push each other to make sure that we finish well this season.”
Congratulations, Vitor! 🙌
— Wolves (@Wolves) May 15, 2025
Nominated for the @premierleague Manager of the Season 🗳️ https://t.co/JZ47J5ljxs pic.twitter.com/ygJrrVfklB
On having a 10-day rest between matches
“To be honest, I think physically, I’d rather play games. I think my body responds better when I play three games in three days or something like that.
“I know there is some consequences when you when you have a big gap like that and the body can kind of relax a little bit, but it’s why we’re making sure that we are working hard outside to switch on the body a little bit.
“But honestly, to me, if I could play three games in three days, it will be really nice because it’s play, rest, play, rest. But obviously if you’re not playing, or if you’re not playing that much, it’s hard for you because you have no time to train and to get your fitness up, but personally, I’d choose that.”
On heading into the summer off two wins
“Obviously if you can finish as high on the table it will be very good, as it also means that we won the games, but we still have to make sure that we develop the things we have to develop, we have to make sure that we correct the things that we are not doing well, we improve in the steps that we have to improve.
“All of that will be an achievement for the remainder of the season, and we have to make sure that we finish well in every moment. If you can finish well, winning the games, then that’s perfect, if you’re winning the games and playing well, then that’s perfect, if you’re winning and not conceding goals, then that’s perfect.
“But all of that stuff, we have to try to improve more and more, so we have to work hard to keep going and improve all of those things.”
