DANCING WITH WOLVES
But boss can’t help joining Wolves title party
NUNO ESPIRITO santo has tried to calm expectations at Wolves after 100,000 fans took to the streets to salute the Championship winners.
The Wolves manager said it would be a ‘ big mistake’ to project his side as challengers for a top-half finish despite plans to spend significantly this summer.
Bookmakers are rating Wolves as the seventh-best Premier League side next season because of their style under nuno this season and the influence of agent Jorge Mendes.
But having shown off the Championship trophy to supporters on an open-top bus parade through Wolverhampton yesterday, the Portuguese struck a cautionary tone.
‘Expectations are very high and i am the only one whose expectations aren’t so high,’ said nuno. ‘We have to improve and work hard but we cannot say we are going to fight for the top 10. That will be a big mistake. We go to August 9, that’s step one, then the next game. You cannot say what’s going to happen in December.
‘i am very cautious. The summer is important, to have decisions on the squad and then we will see. i am not obsessed about making an impression on the Premier League. i want to build a team who can play home and away the same. Let’s try to do it.’
Wolves bought wisely last summer by paying significant sums for Ruben neves and Diogo Jota, but also acquiring inexpensive players in John Ruddy and Ryan Bennett. And nuno insisted the club would not be able to outspend established Premier League teams.
Wealthy owners Fosun, the Chinese conglomerate represented in England by Wolves chairman Jeff shi, are ambitious but not naive.
nuno said: ‘We know our ownership wants to be as successful in football as they are in business, but football is not business. Football is not mathematic. in football you cannot insure anything.
‘We are one year ahead of schedule but the Premier League is different and a big challenge.
‘it is not my job to restrain (the owners’) expectations, but just be realistic. We are in the most competitive league, money-wise. We are going to have financial fair play, and we go by the rules, like everyone.
‘You can have all the money in the world but on those terms i am no different than any manager in the Premier League next season.’