Wolverhampton Wanderers boss Nuno Espirito Santo refuses to let off-the-field problems distract him.
The Black Country club wobbled recently but a weekend’s break due to the weather gave the manager, coaches and players the opportunity to regroup and work out their problems on the training pitches.
Tonight, they travel to Elland Road, ready to end the play-off dreams of Leeds United and to boost their own chances. Cardiff City, Aston Villa and Fulham all won last night to close the gap on the leaders, with Wolves travelling to Villa this weekend.
Espirito Santo is single-minded in achieving his aims: “My only focus is on preparing the team for the games.” (Express and Star)
Other clubs in the Championship have lodged complaints about the relationship between Wolves and super-agent Jorge Mendes. The Express and Star reports the Portuguese as being unflustered by the claims of wrongdoing. “It is an issue that does not concern me or worry me,” he said, before asserting that “I trust completely the club and what the club is doing.”
To compound the pressures surrounding the Molineux hierarchy, the annual financial statements for the year ended May 2017 reported a £23.2m (Express and Star) pre-tax loss which is likely to cause Wolves problems with the Football League’s Financial Fair Play regulations. Promotion isn’t just a matter of pride, it solves a lot of off-the-field problems.
Espirito Santo is not fazed by the issues. Conor Coady, whose performances at the heart of the Wolves defence, claims (Express and Star) the manager is the wheel upon which the cogs of the club’s form turns.
They need to find some grease. Wolves are without a win in three and while two were drawn, the 2–0 defeat at Fulham hurt. Of as much concern to the manager are their problems in front of goal. They haven’t scored more than once on their travels this year, reflected in their form which has seen them win once in 2018 away from home.
Espirito Santo demands focus from his players and the best way for them to show that is by winning tonight.