SECRET OF OUR SUCCESS? AMBITION, TALENT..AND EXPLODING GOLF BALLS
Molineux hero Doherty on how Wolves have risen from League One to take Prem by storm
MATT DOHERTY knew Wolves were going to make a big bang in English football when boss Nuno Espirito Santo’s golf ball blew up.
But rather than go ballistic, Wolves’ Portuguese coach fell about laughing with the rest of the squad at the joke.
Keeper John Ruddy pranked Nuno a year ago with an exploding golf ball on a club trip to Marbella which helped galvanise their Championship titlewinning campaign.
Now Wolves have returned to southern Spain in red-hot form after climbing to seventh in the top-flight and reaching the FA Cup fifth round.
It is 18 years since a promoted team finished seventh or better in the Premier League – back in 2000/01 when Ipswich came fifth. Wolves are on course to buck the trend in style with their trademark three at the back and attacking wing-backs.
Portugal internationals Joao Moutinho, Rui Patricio and Ruben Neves
are all flourishing and Doherty (left) insists no one in their dressing room is the least bit surprised.
The Irish wing-back, at Wolves since 2010, said: “I wouldn’t say we are overachieving. We are where we should be in terms of the quality of players we have.
“Other people might be surprised at the type of football we play but confidence is really high.
“In the changing room, it is not a shock – we know the system , each other, and how good some of the lads can be.
“Everything is going in the right direction, but we have to make sure we finish the season off really well and see how far we can get in the Cup.”
Doherty scored twice to take his tally to six goals to sink League One Shrewsbury in a replay to set-up a trip to Championship Bristol City for a quarter-final spot.
Now he says the famous Molineux club, who have lifted the FA Cup four times previously, the last of which was in 1960, should aim to triumph again.
“Considering we are seventh and there are not many Premier League teams left, we have got to back ourselves to go and win a trophy,” he said.
“If we beat Bristol, we are one game away from Wembley. It is important to us.” But before then, the squad are in Spain for a training camp ahead of Monday’s visit by Newcastle as they eye a fourth successive league win.
Doherty, 27, is taking his golf clubs and expects Nuno to join in again – despite falling victim to a sting.
He smiled: “On the last one, John said, ‘You should use this ball’. He hit it and it blew up!
“The gaffer was the one laughing the most. It was really funny. He was the only staff member who played with us, and stuff like that makes the bond stronger. He wants to get involved. I am not sure he will fall for it this time, but we might get somebody.”
However, Doherty knows the business end of the season is fast approaching. After Monday’s televised clash, they visit Ashton Gate in the FA Cup before facing Bournemouth, Huddersfield and Cardiff.
Both the squad and ambitious Chinese owners Fosun, who have close ties with super-agent Jorge Mendes, sense the chance of a superb campaign.
The conglomerate certainly mean business after investing £18million last month to make Jonny Otto’s loan permanent, taking their spending to £100m since promotion.
Ever-present Doherty added: “The next few fixtures are against teams all below us in the table.
“If we win two or three on the spin, there is going to be a big-ish gap below us and we will back ourselves to keep it.
“We are playing good stuff, but we know football can turn around quickly. That is why you have to enjoy the here and now.”