Vitor Pereira is hopeful of having Jorgen Strand Larsen back in his Wolves squad for the visit of Leeds United, as he reiterates the importance of getting points on the board ahead of the Molineux clash.
Although his side go into Saturday’s matchup without a win from their opening four Premier League outings, the head coach – who signed a new three-year deal on Thursday – remains confident in his players’ ability, mentality and character to give their all as they aim to get off the mark this weekend.
On Strand Larsen’s fitness
“He’s had just one training with the team yesterday, but I hope tomorrow he can help us. Of course, not for the 90 minutes, but for some period in the game. This is the information that I have from the medical department.”
On getting a week of training with his whole squad
“What I saw in this week was a good spirit, a team spirit, hard workers, and the confidence and the spirit to get results, to go on the pitch and to fight. This is what I want to see.
“We did three trainings together and we need more, but we are trying to connect them and to create our identity, and I hope tomorrow to see the results of the work.
“The team gives me the confidence that I need and I try to give them confidence too. They work hard, they show ambitions, they are competing for the positions and they have the responsibility. I feel that the team has the responsibility I need and I can see that they want to get results as soon as possible.
“The points, they bring confidence, and this is what we need in this moment.”
On facing Leeds at Molineux
“For us, tomorrow is a day that is very important. Metaphorically, when a wolf is in pain, and is suffering, this is the time for the pack to be united and to show the strength of the pack. This is the spirit I want to see tomorrow on the pitch and outside the pitch, because we need points. We need to get points to play with confidence.
“For sure, it’ll be a tough game, but thinking about us and looking for our team, tomorrow is a good chance for us to show our work, to show the improvement that we made this week, the ambition, the character, the mentality – everything.
“Tomorrow is a very important game for us. Very important. We are not in the middle of the season, we are not in the end of the season, but in the beginning, it is important to get points because I don't want to be in the zone that we are now, and in the position that we are now.”
On changing formation last weekend
“We have a tactical base, and we can change the dynamic in the attack, with our attack and midfielders to create different solutions. It means that I can do it because we will work this variability of tactical solutions.
“I used to say that it is not only about tactical and technically. Football is about connection, it’s about energy. If you have confidence in yourself, if you have confidence in the teammates, if you have confidence in the work that you are doing, and every day you go on the pitch, trying to increase your level, trying to improve, trying to understand – this is the way to get results.”
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— Wolves (@Wolves) September 18, 2025
On keeping spirits high
“This is football. This is life. The time that we are suffering is the time we are born again, and we go again to the fight. I always say that I need just one day to recharge myself because the human being needs one day to recover, but after one day, I’m ready again to fight, to not lose my direction, and we cannot lose our direction.
“We know what we need to improve, we know the way, and this is the confidence that we have in our work. I’m realising the personalities of the players, and they have good personalities, good players, who are trying to adapt in the different league, especially the new players, because this is a different league, and they need some time, and they need support from us and from our supporters.”
On signing his new contract
“It was the timing that we needed to realise that we love and will move forward because we trust each other, because they believe in our work, and I believe in a project of the club.
“Football is not about insurance. Football is about trust, about hard work, day-by-day. It’s about work, it’s about character, it’s about commitment, it’s about everything, and you can see that if you are here. If you are here, and you see the work every day, you can value the work of someone.”
