With most Wolverhampton Wanderers fans looking at the permutations for seventh place to potentially secure a European adventure for the club next season given the great campaign we have had, head coach Nuno Espirito Santo is still refusing to look that far ahead.
With Wolves taking victory over Watford at the weekend to take a four point advantage over both them and Everton in the top flight table, Nuno was adamant following the game that Europe had never been our actual aim this year anyway and he just wanted to focus on the matches that remain before rightly reflecting on how good a return to the Premier League it had been for us as we put down a marker for the seasons to come.
Speaking to Sky Sports after the game, he explained.
“The final of the FA Cup still has to be played, so why should we be worried about anything else? It was never our aim to compete in Europe. Competing in the Premier League is very hard, we must know were we came from. Last season we were playing against Burton, with all my respects, and now we are here. We have achieved staying in the Premier League – no one has said that – and now we are going to be in the top half. Last season we were in the Championship. We are not thinking about it. It doesn’t guarantee anything. We have to prepare for the final game at Molineux.”
It might not have been the aim but getting this close has excited the fans and it must have excited Nuno about the further potential development available at the club. Whether it happens or not isn’t the issue, we always had greater hopes than simply surviving this year and the opportunity we now have should be clear to all.
