Moutinho is Wolves’ joker in the pack
For a player who has won the European championship with his country, titles in Portugal and France, and the Europa league at Porto, Joao Moutinho carries his pedigree lightly.
‘I joke every day, pranks sometimes,’ he says. ‘I try to be happy and to give a smile.’
Bought by Wolves to add rarefied quality, the 32-year-old knows what it takes to reach the top but does not take himself too seriously. on his first day of training he forgot to tie his laces, yet carried on regardless ‘to make the group laugh’ and there are other ‘ small things’. ‘ In the shower we have the hot water, so I turn the cold on and all the players need to run,’ he says.
Del Boy falling through the bar probably has the edge as far as slapstick goes, but Moutinho’s approach confounds any expectations that he might be high maintenance, given his standing in the game.
Wolves invested in huge promise when signing the likes of ruben Neves and Diogo Jota, but Moutinho was the game-changer last summer, a midfielder of established calibre who could elevate the team’s ability and mentality at a stroke.
His performances since have met the anticipation and justified a £5million fee that must rank as one of the bargains of the season. ‘I bring experience, of course,’ he agrees. ‘In football we need to be intelligent because sometimes you can have a lot of things, but you need to know when to pass or stay with the ball, when you go to the counter-attack. I believe I bring my quality to the team.’
His arrival in England has been a case of third time lucky. He was close to joining Everton under David Moyes at the beginning of his career and he signed for Tottenham when Andre Villas- Boas was in charge, only for the paperwork to be rejected after it arrived a minute after deadline.
‘Since I started as a professional, I have wanted to play in England. For me the Premier league is the best in the world,’ he says. ‘It is fascinating because of all the teams, the atmosphere and stadiums.’
Tomorrow’s FA cup semi-final is an opportunity to move one match closer to more silverware, after a career spent competing for the biggest prizes.
At Porto, Moutinho lifted three league titles as well as the Europa league in 2011. With Monaco, he claimed ligue 1 two years ago, and his proudest moment came with Portugal at Euro 2016, when he played in the final against France.
So Moutinho (below) sets his aspirations with Wolves high.
‘I have never won the champions league. I was in the semifinal and quarter-final,’ he says when asked about the targets of owners Fosun.
‘I’ll do my best to win something. My ultimate ambition is to win the Premier league.’
That would inevitably take time, but Moutinho does not feel his age. ‘If I get rid of the beard I am 22!’ he says, stroking his grinning face.
The FA cup is the immediate priority, but he will not take Watford for granted. Javi Gracia’s side did a number on Wolves at Molineux in october, winning 2-0 and prompting Nuno Espirito Santo into a tactical reshuffle.
The Wolves manager introduced leander Dendoncker to midfield and pushed Moutinho into a No 10 role. Performances improved. ‘We’ve changed how we play, we are better,’ he says. ‘We need to be very focused. If we think we’re in the final, we have already lost.’
Moutinho is contemplating the future in another way. He wants to be a coach one day, and does not rule out staying in England. His wife and young daughters are settled — his eldest, lara, plays football — and Wolves would be keen to extend the relationship. ‘I have this year and one more on my deal,’ he says. ‘We never know. I am enjoying it.’ MArcUS rashford, who missed Manchester United’s 2- 1 defeat at Wolves on Tuesday because of an ankle injury, should be fit for the champions league quarter-final home leg against Barcelona on
Wednesday.