Gary O'Neil has emphasized that Wolves must not be disheartened by their challenging start, as the manager is confident a 'tipping point' is imminent. O'Neil acknowledged that their winless streak appears 'disastrous' and recognized that the upcoming match against Manchester City will highlight any vulnerabilities, especially after six losses in their first seven games left them at the bottom of the Premier League.
O'Neil's team has managed only one point—a draw against Nottingham Forest in August—from a series of tough fixtures. Wolves have faced seven of the league's top 11 teams before hosting Pep Guardiola's champions on Sunday and then traveling to high-flying Brighton next weekend.
"The players understand what the Manchester City game might entail," said O'Neil. "And they are aware of what lies ahead in the coming weeks. We won't be playing top-eight teams all season. There will be matches against lower-ranked teams, which won't necessarily be easier but will require us to be mentally prepared. We must ensure this tough run hasn't affected our readiness for the next challenge."
O'Neil admitted that the recent 5-3 defeat by Brentford was 'a real shock and a wake-up call.' Regarding the psychological hurdles his players face, O'Neil noted: "Manchester City always test our mental fortitude, and there will be moments in the game where it feels incredibly difficult, where you can't seem to break free and they keep pressing. These moments reveal where we stand as a group.
"It will show us how far we've come in the past few weeks, how much fight and resilience we have in tough situations, and whether we can demonstrate enough quality, even against a top side, to cause them issues. It's a good test for us. Naturally, coming after one point from seven games adds an extra layer to this match. We will do our best on Sunday to secure our first three points of the season."
This week, Guardiola suggested that Wolves are better than their current position indicates. "I understand what Pep is saying, but we need to prove it. That tipping point will come soon," O'Neil said. "We can't keep making excuses like 'we've had tough games' or 'we lost key players in the summer.' It's time to move forward and show what we're capable of."
O'Neil mentioned that Wolves aim to replicate their victory over City at home from last season, when Hwang Hee-chan, currently out with an ankle injury, scored the winning goal. "The key that day was exceptional discipline from the team, a strong counterattacking threat, and real unity and fight, which we'll need again," O'Neil said. "We need to deliver a performance that unites the fans."
Source link: https://www.theguardian.com
