‘Dead!’ - Vitor Pereira jests in response to Wolves injury question but confirms two fitness woes
Vitor Pereira was asked about a new injury concern for Wolves after the defeat to Brighton.
Wolverhampton Wanderers boss Vitor Pereira has assured that Andre hasn’t suffered an injury after the defensive midfielder limped off against Brighton & Hove Albion.
Andre was taken off in the 89th minute and looked in a little discomfort as he stepped down into the home dugout. The Brazilian was fine, though, it turns out, with fatigue the issue rather than anything malicious.
When Pereira was asked during his post-match press conference whether Andre had picked up an injury, he said: “No, I don’t think so,” and then joked: “But dead, yes, dead! In the end, dead!”
No issue for Andre, then, with the £21 million summer signing expected to be fine to start Wolves’ remaining Premier League fixtures against Crystal Palace and Brentford, barring any late changes.
Two attacking players don’t quite face the same hopeful fate, however, as Pereira has confirmed fitness woes for Jorgen Strand Larsen and Hwang Hee-Chan. The former could only feature off the bench as he wasn’t sharp enough to start, while Hwang was absent from the matchday squad due to a niggle.
“In the last two weeks, complaining,” Pereira said of Hwang. “One training, two trainings, the third training he’s complaining. It’s something we need to clean because we need him. Strand Larsen is not in the best conditions,” Pereira added.
Wolves shortfall clear in Brighton loss
The Old Gold’s lack of attacking depth was exposed during the defeat to the Seagulls, with Goncalo Guedes asked to lead the line in an auxiliary striker position. The Portuguese had a decent opportunity early doors as he volleyed narrowly over the crossbar, but he was ineffective from that point forward.
Matheus Cunha was utilised in Strand Larsen’s absence against Manchester City, but Pereira concluded he much prefers Cunha in a role just off or behind the striker. Guedes wasn’t able to fill in too well either, with Wanderers really missing Strand Larsen’s presence. By the time the Norwegian came on, the game had almost been lost.
“We started with Guedes because in the last game, I realised that we cannot play with Cunha as a striker because he’s not a striker,” Pereira explained. “He’s a player that wants and likes to play between the lines, to come down to receive the ball. Missing, in my opinion against City, was the movement in the space.
“Larsen, he’s a player that wants to play every time, wants to help the team. But what I’ve realised, is he’s not in the condition. I hope the injury will not be worse because I did see Larsen not at this level. That’s why we started with Guedes.”
Pereira will be hoping Strand Larsen and Hwang can shake off their respective issues and build sharpness before Wolves’ next game, away at Palace on May 20. Wanderers have nine days to prepare for that game, perhaps sufficient time for full recoveries, perhaps not.
Whatever happens, it’s clear Wolves need to address the lack of attacking depth in the summer, and Pereira is bound to agree.