Vitor Pereira admitted Wolves’ 3-0 loss to Fulham at Craven Cottage was one of his team’s worst performances during his time as Old Gold head coach.
Despite going down to 10-men late in the second half following Emmanuel Agbadou’s sending off, Pereira felt his side were not at the required level throughout a 90-minute performance in which they were completely dominated by the Cottagers.
With the supporters venting their feelings from the stands following the final whistle, Pereira said he understands their frustrations as he is experiencing the same ones, but he is determined to put things right.
On defeat at Craven Cottage
“I’m disappointed today. I’m not proud of my wok, of our work, because I don’t know why. I don’t know if it’s because mentally, we put a lot of energy in the last game against Chelsea until the last minute.
“But what I realised today was a very difficult game for us, tactically, technically, physically. We played maybe one of the worst games that we’ve played. Even with 11 against 11, since the first minute the energy to move, the offensive dynamic, and the energy to press was not there.
“After five minutes, I started to realise that something is missing today. But the game was balanced, because even then, they were not playing in a high level. But after the goal, we tried to do something, but not in our level. After the red card, it was very difficult for us.”
On not having momentum from Wednesday night
“I’ve tried everything. We started the last game against Chelsea in 4-3-3, and after we realised that in 4-3-3 we were not defending in our level and we were not playing in our level. I changed the system and we were able to play in the second half.
“The second half was very good, in my opinion, and today we started as we finished the last game, but the dynamic was not there. Maybe because we played three games in a short space of time, so I tried to change some players from the last game.
“I changed a lot of players for this game to try to have energy to play against Fulham, but we didn’t play at our level today.”
On taking responsibility
“I’m trying everything. I’m trying everything to mentally keep the team in conditions to compete. I had very good feelings from the last game, especially the second half, but I don’t think two days was enough to recover for this game. But it’s my responsibility.
“I’m not a manager to put the responsibilities on the players, but together, we need to have a talk, and to assume the responsibilities together as a group because we cannot accept this level that we played today.”
On the supporters’ frustrations
“I understand because if I’m not proud with what we did today, they – for sure – will not be. I must accept it because they are frustrated and I’m frustrated too.
“I’m suffering because it’s my work and I do my best every time, as I did last season, but today, technically, physically and practically, we didn’t play in our level. It means that they come here to support us and thanks for them, but in the end, I understand their frustration.”
On his Wolves future
“I’m a fighter. I never give up. I’m not this kind of person. I will try my best in the next training to mentally recover the team, to tactically recover the organisation that we need for the next game.
“But today is a difficult game for this evaluation. If you look for the second 45 minutes that we play against Chelsea, I could tell you that they are together. They are fighting. They are fighting to try to turn over the situation, but I can’t today.
“We need to reflect about what happened today because it was not the team. Before this game, if you look for the Burnley game, if you look for the Sunderland game, one half of the time we played in a good level, and the other half of the time we struggled and didn’t play in our level. We cannot play one half in our level and the other half in a different level. We must be consistent.
“Today, in my mind, I thought we’ll go there – changing some players – and we can show that we can be consistent in a full game, but it was not the case.
“If I’m happy, I’m happy, if I’m proud, I’m proud, but I cannot represent that today. I am not proud. I am not happy, and we must play in a better level and we must give the answer in the next game.”
