Rob Edwards hails Wolves' unwavering spirit after beating Liverpool
Rob Edwards, manager of Wolverhampton Wanderers, said he was incredibly proud of the mental transformation shown by his players after recording back-to-back Premier League wins. The latest victory came in dramatic fashion as they hosted defending champions Liverpool at Molineux, with a late strike sealing the three points. The 2-1 win began with Rodrigo Gomes’ goal, which was equalised by the visitors, before André’s deflected shot sealed the three points for ‘The Old Gold’. This result closed Wolves’ gap to the teams above them in the table.
“That isn’t great for my heart, but I suppose I’m getting used to it. What a feeling,” Edwards said after commenting on the late winner. He explained that the plan was to stay in the game until the second half, when the opposition began to threaten and spaces opened up. “There was more pressure on the opponent, they started to open up, and that left a little more space, and that’s how it happened.”
Edwards highlighted the stark difference between the squad’s condition when he first arrived and the fighting spirit now shown. Although Wolves have a relatively small squad, unity has been their main weapon in dispelling public doubt. “Past and present are very different in terms of the level of endeavour and hard work shown by the players. We have a close-knit group, fighting among themselves, and showing that we may not be as bad as people think,” he said.
The euphoria of this victory cannot last long. Wolves are scheduled to host Liverpool again in the FA Cup fifth round at Molineux on Friday night. Edwards instructed his players to replicate the impressive performance to maintain the positive momentum.
Regarding the choice between a league focus or domestic cup, Edwards affirmed his ambition to win all remaining matches. “We know how hard that is. We have to recover and try to pick a team to win the cup tie. This will be a very exciting night for us on Friday night, whether we should pick one or the other? We will try to win both,” he said. (Wolves/Z-2)