Nuno: I fear for the future of our game
PLAYSTATION OVER FOOTBALL FOR KIDS
NUNO ESPIRITO SANTO predicts football will suffer a lost generation due to the pandemic.
The Wolves boss gave supporters something to cheer after reaching the fourth round of the FA Cup – but then predicted a gloomy future.
Adama Traore’s first-half goal was enough to see off Crystal Palace.
But the Portuguese said that a decline in interest in football among youngsters was inevitable.
Asked about the increased testing and more positive cases due to Covid, Nuno said: “Testing is just a consequence of what’s happening – and it’s going to happen more.
“Just look at the news. The expectations are terrible and it’s going to get worse.
“What’s happening is that the younger ones – the 14 and 15-year-olds – those lads that play football outside, in their schools, on Sundays, it’s just not happening.
“So there will be a gap when players c ome throu g h because young players are not doing what they were doing before. It’s not a situation we can avoid. “They are going to do other things. Habits are changing. “Unfortunately, they will spend more time sitting down in front of a laptop or a Playstation. “I don’t know how long it will take to return, I wish I knew. We also cannot predict how we are going to return fans to matches. “We don’t know how or when it is going to be. “Put yourself in that position and ask yourself, ‘How is football going to look?’ “When the fans are back in the stadiums, how are they going to behave? How far are they going to be from one another? “It’s not the best.” However, Nuno was pleased with
Traore’s scorching finish on Friday. The Spain international had not found the net since last February.
His campaign has been blighted by a niggling injury and with Raul Jimenez still sidelined following a serious head injury, Nuno admits he will use the speedster sparingly. gly.
He said: “Adama is always s looking for ways to improve his game and help the team.
“He’s a hard-working player and these special moments will give him confidence.
“He’s had good actions in the th game, good crossing, good delivery and we should take advantage. It can only boost his confidence.
“He’s a very special player with explosive actions and we don’t want to push him any more as we have a very tight schedule.”
Wolves need a sharp and potent Traore because their hopes of signing Diego Costa (above) are fading over the striker’s wage demands.
The former Chelsea star is a free agent after leaving Atletico Madrid, and Nuno has been widely linked with a move for him.
But Costa, 32, would want more than £250,000 a week, taking him out of Wolves’ wage bracket and causing them issues around financial fair play unle unless players were sold. The fact the Brazil- born Spain international is a client of Jorge Mendes, who has close links to Molineux owners Fosun International, had made a deal look simple. But unless the player who won two Premier League titles at Stamford Bridge is willing to accept a significant pay cut to join Wolves then it is likely to be a no-go.
Costa’s contract with Atletico was due to expire this summer, meaning he is free to talk to other clubs this month.
But the La Liga side agreed to terminate his contract six months early after he told them he wanted to leave – citing ‘personal reasons’.