Wolverhampton Wanderers manager Bruno Lage explains why the FA Cup ‘means a lot’ to him

Wolverhampton Wanderers boss Bruno Lage has revealed why the FA Cup ‘means a lot’ to him ahead of Wolves’ clash with Sheffield United on Sunday afternoon.

The FA Cup can sometimes be lost on foreign managers due to them not fully understanding the history and prestige of the competition but not Lage, who explains he will be going all out to win the entire thing.

Wanderers haven’t lifted this particular piece of silverware for over half a century. 62 years to be precise.

A brace from the late Norman Deeley following an own-goal from Mick McGrath was enough to give the gold and black a 3-0 victory over Blackburn Rovers back in 1960.

Many of the current Wolves fan base won’t have even been alive to see it and ironically, neither was the now boss who reflected on his own personal memories of the competition.

He recalled watching different finals back in Portugal as a child and how much of a special time it was.

“It’s an occasion,” Lage said.

“If you go back 30 years ago, in that period around the world, the people don’t have any chance to watch English games but there’s one game you can watch. In the middle of May.

“I remember that because I was born on 12th May so I know around that time is when people go to Wembley to watch the FA Cup.

“I have memories that every time around that period there was one English game on Portuguese TV so that’s why it means a lot, not just for me but for everyone.

“It’s an important trophy not just here but around the world.”

Although Lage was quite adamant over the importance of the competition, he does understand why teams, especially those at the top field weaker sides.

Some argue it devalues the trophy but the Wolves boss can see both sides - claiming the tough schedule around Christmas time makes it near impossible for teams to go gung-ho.

“I think it’s depending on the opportunities,” he added.

“For us we didn’t play too many games in the last few weeks but you can imagine the other teams who are playing five games in 15 days over January and sometimes you need to rest some players.

“When you are playing in the Premier League, for the Premier League, if you don’t give some days to recover for those players - if you continue to play with those players and then you’re playing in the Champions League? Come on.

“It’s very hard, especially in the modern day but when those teams have the big squads they don’t have weaknesses - everyone is top.

“But for me, for sure, we are going to go with a big ambition to win because Sheffield United is a strong opponent and we need to continue the work we did in the last games.”

Sunday’s opponents do of course come in the form of a team from the division below but Lage was full of praise for the Blades and the threat they will bring with them.

The 45-year-old has experience coaching in the Championship having assisted Carlos Carvalhal at both Sheffield Wednesday and Swansea City and claims sometimes, it’s hard to even tell the divisions apart.

“I was there for two and a half years in the Championship and sometimes you don’t even know the difference,” explained the boss.

“I have good memories when I worked with Carlos, we beat Arsenal in the League Cup so the chances sometimes in these games it’s just one game and teams go with everything.

“They’ll come with a big ambition.

“I watched two or three games. I watched the game against Fulham and they know how to play n that system, they sometimes play with two midfielders, three midfielders.

“Morgan [Gibbs-White] gives them a different dynamic because he can play as a winger or a centre-midfielder.

“They will create a lot of problems for us and we need to have a big mentality to play at home with our fans to continue in the competition.”

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