Cesar Peixoto feels his Wolves squad is in a good position to attack their new EFL campaign after a pleasing performance in their 3-0 win over Racing Santander to close pre-season.
With his high-pressing style fully on display for the first time at Molineux on Saturday afternoon, the supporters got a taste of what the players have been working on with the Portuguese during his first month in charge at the club.
But with the new season getting underway on Friday evening, the head coach believes there are still improvements to make in the squad, and with the transfer window open for the next month, Peixoto is expecting plenty of changes to be made within the group come September.
On finishing pre-season with a big win
“I’m happy because it is an important win, but also important to see the players compete in this way, see the players take minutes in the tank ahead of the season – a long season – and I think we did some great things against a good opponent, but we played better today.
“The players are committed with our idea of the game, our way of working, and we believe in that. We believe we’re going to do a good season, a good work, and the players try to feel the confidence.
“In the first 10 minutes, we were not quite confident, but after with the minutes going by, the team grew up and did a great game, and that’s important for me.”
On building for the future
“It’s a new year and the past is the past. Now we’re going to build the present and the future of the club. I’m very happy, I’m very confident, and I appreciate a lot the people in the club, all the staff. I look to the to all the people and I work with all the people in the club.
“I like a good environment, I like working hard also, but for me it is a good opportunity, a great club with a great history, and for me, I have a lot of fire to attack the season.”
On players quickly adapting to his style of play
“I feel that since the first moment I talked with them, the first time I trained with them, all of the players have been working very hard and trying to do everything I want them to do. The team have started to grow up physically and tactically, to understand the game, and I think we’ve stayed at a good level, but we have to improve more and more and more.
“It’s my idea of the game. I know it very well, I know what I do and what we are doing with the team, with the players, and it is important for me that all the players know what you have to do without the ball or with the ball. I think the players are knowing better day by day, game by game. It is also important for me to improve the physicality also, and I think the confidence with these kinds of games has improved a lot.
“We know what we are, we know what we’re going to do in the season, but it’s also important to bring more players and manage the situations in the club to close the team as soon as possible.”
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On making changes to the squad
“We know what we need into the squad. Some things are going to happen. The market is delayed because of the World Cup. We know what we need and we know what we are doing, but at the moment, these are the players I have to work with and I’m happy with them.
“The team work well, work hard, have a good spirit and team spirit also, and I think it’s important to look at these players and find the solutions. We want to improve the team, but I’m happy with these players.
“There’s going to be changes, but like I said before, the market is delayed. We’ve tried to manage the situation, and some players will go out, some players will come, and we’re going to change a lot. But me and Matt and Nathan, we know what we are doing, and we work with these players, but we’re going to bring more players to help us and improve the team, for sure.”
On getting ready for the year ahead
“I’m not frustrated because I have to manage the situation, and I’m happy with these players, I’m happy with the improvement of the team. But for me as the coach, I want to close the team as soon as possible. This is normal.
“All the coaches want on the first day to close the team, but it’s not possible because of the market. But I believe in the people I work with, and I believe what we are doing in the club and in the team.
“We’re going to find the right solutions to improve the team and do a good season.”
