Portuguese TV station Sportv today featured an interview with Wolverhampton Wanderers manager Bruno Lage. With the season starting in ten days, the coach talked about his expectations about his first year in charge of a Premier League club.
Lage had already worked at the likes of Sheffield Wednesday and Swansea City as an assistant of Carlos Carvalhal. He then moved to Benfica, where he was quickly promoted to first team coach, and is now back in the UK.
“Three years were well spent as assistant to Carvalhal. He left me with good memories,” Lage told Sportv (via O Jogo).
“After Benfica, this was undoubtedly the step I wanted to take in my career. It’s a step at the right time. Very satisfied with what I’ve been living at the club.”
Lage made sure to highlight Nuno Espírito Santo’s work at Molineux, claiming that his main goal is to continue with the good job started by his compatriot.
“The objective is to continue to do better. To highlight what Nuno did, the technical team and players, it was fantastic. The ambition is to give continuity to this project. First is to get to know the club well, players. We have a very good base, but our intention is to make a few more signings to be more competitive.”
Lage had left Benfica in the summer of 2020 and took one year before accepting a new job. He now explains why he stayed out of football for so long.
“The pandemic brought a lot of negatives. After my departure from Benfica, the absence of fans was one of them. It never gave me extra motivation to go back to work. I felt I had taken the right step and after leaving Benfica my goal would be to reach the Premier League. The absence of the public weighed a lot.”
“What has always worried me is getting ready for the next challenge. That’s what I’ve always done. I’m not worried if anyone doubts my work.”
Wolves have a final friendly to be played against Celta Vigo next weekend. They then prepare for their first game in the Premier League, which will be played against Leicester City at the King Power Stadium on the 14th of August.
