“I want to see Wolves play football with the behaviour of a big club” – Vítor Pereira outlines ambitions for the new Premier League season | OneFootball

Vítor Pereira made a stunning impact at Wolverhampton Wanderers after joining the club midway through last season, helping steer the team away from relegation fears with seamless ease in the Premier League.

Having taken charge following the sacking of Gary O’Neil with Wolves five points adrift in the relegation zone, Pereira quickly changed the west midlands outfit’s fortunes. By February, the team were five points clear of the bottom three; at the end of the campaign, the gap between themselves and 18th place was an astonishing 17 points.

The upturn in form peaked with a record six consecutive league victories between March and April, including a 4-2 win over Tottenham Hotspur and a 1-0 triumph over Ruben Amorim’s Manchester United at Old Trafford. By the end of the season, Pereira found himself nominated for Manager of the Year.

Speaking to O Jogo in an extended interview earlier this week, Pereira was asked about his hopes for the new season. “Right now, the goal is to stabilise the club, to not be here with so many ups and downs, always looking at the bottom line, because that doesn't give anyone peace of mind,” he said. “We want to build a competitive team, one with strong points, because without that in the Premier League you can't compete, and one that does a good job, so that we can, as a small club, compete with the big clubs.

“I like to keep my feet firmly on the ground. The short-term perspective is to have a team that is as competitive as possible, competing in every Premier League game. To have a strong season that allows us to be mid-table without always having to look at the bottom, worried about the relegation spots. I'd like to see our Wolverhampton in mid-table positions next season and snapping at something higher, rather than always looking down at our feet to see if the fish are snapping us.

“Europe? We're not ready yet, but if things are done with planning it doesn’t mean we can’t. At a club like ours, you can't make mistakes. We don't have money to waste. We have to clearly define what we need, have a clear vision of the game, and look for players who fit that vision. Because there's nothing else but work. And, based on that type of player, we can form a strong structure and build the foundation so that one day we can truly fight for something more. Right now, for me, we need to stabilise the club in mid-table. That's what I see for next season.”

“I’m not a small-team coach”

One of the ways Pereira intends to elevate Wolves is by instilling a playing style and belief that transcends their perceived limitations. Known for a high-intensity, proactive approach to the game, the former Porto boss has no intention of succumbing to a pragmatic, cautious game model for the upcoming campaign.

"I always want to win, I always want to compete, until the last minute, regardless of whether we're playing at home or away,” he said. “I like to see my team playing the game, I like to see a team pressing, I like to see a team with the behaviour of a big club. I'm not a coach of a small team, in the sense of playing deep, waiting for mistakes and going fishing; that's not my style.

“The goal is to develop the game of a team that may not be as big as other clubs in that league, despite having a very impressive history, but I want people to look at Wolverhampton and see there an identity and a desire to play a certain way, always with intention and courage.

“We played a few games [like this against big teams] last season. Against Liverpool, in the second half, losing, we pushed forward, and Liverpool didn't get a single chance at our goal—unless I'm mistaken, it was something that had never happened before. Playing at Anfield and putting pressure on them so they didn't even get a single chance at our goal is something that's not for a team with small-mindedness, one that sits back and waits to avoid conceding more.

“And that changes things, too. Because often it's not just tactical. You instil this spirit of competing with your weapons, regardless of the opponent. You must always force the opponent to play and react to your game. I don't like to constantly react to the opponent's game; I've always been like that.”

“First the points, then the pints..”

Pereira has already developed a strong rapport with the Wolves fans, especially after establishing a habit of meeting with locals in pubs after matches. The phrase “first the points, then the pints” emerged towards the end of the campaign, with Pereira regularly photographed with supporters following victories.

"I interact very easily with the fans,” Pereira says. “I go to a pub, eat, drink, watch the games. It wasn't just about arriving with clear ideas from a tactical standpoint, and instilling confidence, but also about connecting people—between the team itself, the club's people, and the players. We tried to foster the club's connection with the fans, and that was a wave of positive energy, confidence, and belief that grew and allowed us to go from being below the relegation zone to a 17-point lead over the relegation zone, and that's not easy in just a few months in the English league.

“Naturally [I want to continue this] because I won't be alone at home. I already spend many hours alone thinking about football, many hours in the office, alone, thinking. So, at the end of the day, I need to watch a game and feel social, to be among the fans, sometimes to watch English league games, the Champions League—it's something I do naturally, and so I'll continue to do it naturally. Out of gratitude, when I feel the support, I like to celebrate with them too, and that's why I want to continue having that relationship.”

More players needed

Despite his lofty ambitions, Pereira admits the squad needs strengthening, particularly after the departures of Matheus Cunha (Manchester United) and Rayan Aït-Nouri (Manchester City), while experienced Portuguese full-back and club captain, Nélson Semedo, left the club at the end of his contract.

“We need wingers, we need at least two more forwards, we need another midfielder,” Pereira admitted. “I don't know if we also need a defender, a left-footed player, which is also important, because if Toti gets injured, we're out of options.

“Can we make these signings? I'm waiting. I honestly believe the club has been working hard, but the market isn't easy. It's easy for teams with a lot of money, so they just show up and get what they want. I've seen some million-dollar signings, but we don't have that capacity, so we need to be more organised.

“Last year we clearly felt we needed a midfielder. Another player, another attacking solution, we'll see. I'm a little worried as a coach, but of course I have to understand the market. I have to understand that the market isn't easy, but time is passing, and I know that in a month we'll face City already loaded with reinforcements, and we can't make the same mistake as last year, which was starting the championship poorly, falling into the relegation zone, and then it's a pain.

“I should be working with everyone right now, preparing ourselves to be as competitive as possible right from the start, but I'm working with ten or twelve youngsters from the academy and I'm not able to prepare properly and as we should because the team is missing key positions, and we're waiting.”

As Pereira indicated, Wolves begin their Premier League campaign by welcoming Manchester City to Molineux on Saturday,16th August.