Wolverhampton Wanderers manager Bruno Lage on the ‘one rule’ he follows to sell the club to players

Wolverhampton Wanderers manager Bruno Lage claims that there is just ‘one rule’ he follows when it comes down to both convincing players to stay with the club and attracting new potential signings to Molineux.

With first team numbers seemingly starting to decrease with every passing week, it is pivotal that the gold & black not only bring in fresh blood in January but keep the squad that they do have together moving forward.

It is no secret that Wolves are in desperate need of reinforcements in the January window. The squad were threadbare before injuries started taking their toll but with now just three fit centre-backs available, new faces have become a need rather than a want.

And the manager hasn’t tried to hide it. He’s already gone on record on numerous occasions over the last few weeks indirectly suggesting that he simply cannot manage with such small numbers and Tuesday’s press conference was no different.

But today the question was also posed to the manager about possible outgoings and if they have the power to keep hold of their biggest stars.

Most recently Wanderers have lost two big names in Diogo Jota and Rui Patricio & whilst they got a good return on both and arguably upgraded between the sticks - it’s something they can ill afford to keep doing if they are to progress as a club.

The former Benfica boss alluded to this, claiming that it will be a challenge but that there’s just one key rule he will follow to convince players to both sign and stay with the team.

“I think that’s the challenge for the club” [getting people to stay], he said.

“I create a solid project to grow as a team and to convince the players to continue at this club.

“So for sure, there’s only one rule to convince top players to continue for this club.

“They need to understand the project and they understand that one or two or three top players are coming to help them - to arrive in different positions.

“That’s the only rule to try and keep top players with us.

“We are working very hard for that - when other teams come in - we need to offer something unique.

“It’s not about the contracts, it’s not about the money - it’s about what the project and what the club really wants.”

Lage went on to once again send a not so indirect plea to the club’s chairman, Jeff Shi - adding that he cannot do the above without reinforcements.

“They [the squad] need to see two or three players to come to help and be better. To go to that position, we cannot go with 14 or 15 [players].

“You need 20 players and look, at the moment, with injuries and so on I just have three centre-backs.

“We need one or three players to help us and create the competition that I want in the squad.

“One more time - I don’t want anyone to go, these guys are really important and the guys that come need to be in the same level, professional like these guys are because what they are doing I am very happy with them.”

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