Pundit swipes at Wolves stars after source reveals rift with Lage
Noel Whelan has insisted the Wolves squad need to trust Bruno Lage as he attempts to try and revolutionise the club’s style of play.
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, the ex-Leeds United and England Under-21s striker claimed Wolves’ performances this season mean Lage‘s methods should be trusted.
A club source told Football Insider last week (6 May) that the players are “pushing back” at the 45-year-old’s plans to replace the long-standing back-three with a more conventional four-man defence.
Previous manager Nuno Espirito Santo introduced the 3-4-3 system that Lage has stuck with this season but they only have won one of their previous six Premier League games.
Despite their faltering results, they still sit in eighth in the Premier League table, five points behind the European places.
Asked whether the Wolves players need to trust Lage, Whelan told Football Insider correspondent Ewan Kingsbury: “Yeah, absolutely – it’s a case of be careful what you wish for.
“I think he’s trying to set up a system that plays to his strengths, and that will just add another string to their bow for next season.
“Whether that appeases the players or the fans or not – I don’t think he really cares. He’s there to get the best possible results out of the players.
“He’s worked wonders with this side this season – and now he’s just trying to unlock some of that extra flair at the top end of the pitch, while also being solid at the back.
“If you’re finishing eighth you must be doing something right. They’re not going to break into that top six or that top four, and that’s just realism.”
In other news, an ex-Premier League referee has revealed an ‘exaggerating’ Wolves player is exposing nonsensical laws as footage is analysed.