Survival name of game in ‘absurd’ schedule – Nuno

Wolves boss Nuno Espirito Santo says his team will try to “survive” a daunting Christmas schedule which sees Wanderers face Manchester City and Liverpool.

Nuno called the situation “absurd” as Wolves host reigning Premier League champions City on Friday before travelling to current leaders Liverpool on Sunday, with less than 45 hours between the two matches.

He insists his players will be “ready to compete, but the Portuguese is expecting the punishing schedule to be tough.

“All the teams have strong cases (to complain to the Premier League) but, of all the schedule, we are the team that has less hours in this period – 45 hours between two games and 112 hours between the three games until New Year’s Day,” Nuno told the club website.

“It’s going to be very tough.

I think all of the managers are concerned, and rightly so. I’m particularly concerned because I’ve been saying this – the schedule doesn’t make sense, it’s absurd. For all the teams.”

Wolves have lost only once in the Premier League since September – a run which includes a 2-0 victory over City at the Etihad Stadium – and they head into the halfway point of the season sixth in the table.

“It’s nice to hear the recognition, it’s the way people see us. But we know that the way we do things, how we do things, is more important than what we’ve been achieving,” said Nuno.

Nuno reported no new injury problems heading into the Christmas period. Midfielder Morgan Gibbs-White (back) continues his recovery, along with centre-back Willy Boly (fractured leg) and Bruno Jordao (ankle).