Wolves are heading into the new Premier League season without a single pre-season win, but Vítor Pereira is choosing to see the positives.
[In an interview with DAZN Portugal](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=py2cESYRRhA&ab_channel=DAZNPortugal), [relayed by A Bola](https://www.abola.pt/noticias/wolves-nao-ganhou-na-pre-epoca-vitor-pereira-aguarda-faltam-3-ou-4-jogadores-2025081514453978748?utm_campaign=abola-page-post&utm_content=article-fresh&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter&utm_term=cde-twitter-fresh-articles-1203), the Portuguese coach openly acknowledged the poor results but argued they had served a purpose.
_“We didn’t win… we didn’t win a single game,”_ he said with a laugh. _“But how do you say it? There are bad things that come for good, aren’t there? Maybe it’s the only way to make us aware that we need reinforcements, that we need to bring people in and also understand our limitations. So it’s the ideal phase to see what’s missing.”_
Pereira went on to explain that the squad is still a work in progress.
_“We clearly know we’re missing three or four positions,”_ he said. _“The fact that some players have only just arrived also affects the dynamics.They still need to understand the idea, to connect with it. That hasn’t been possible yet. We need three or four players to give us a more competitive team, internally as well, so we can face the giants of this league.”_
The first of those giants will be Manchester City at Molineux.
The manager also addressed the departure of Nélson Semedo, who left for Fenerbahçe to join José Mourinho after his contract expired. _“Nélson was my extension on the pitch, in the dressing room,”_ he reflected. _“From the first day, he was always ready to help me, to unite the group, to manage those small conflicts that needed filtering. So it’s a big loss as a player and, above all, in terms of leadership.”_
DAZN also spoke with defender Toti Gomes, who recalled the moment Pereira arrived midway through last season. _“Since the moment he arrived, things have improved,”_ Toti said. _“We obviously hadn’t started in the best way, but then we had a change of coach and that’s basically when things began to get better. The manager implemented his ideas. At the time, we all said we respected him for taking the job, because we were in a very complicated situation. Not everyone would accept that challenge, and we respected him a lot for that.”_
According to Toti, Pereira’s approach quickly instilled belief in the squad. _“He basically made us believe it was possible to get out of that situation, and we ended the season very well, exactly as we wanted.”_
The 25-year-old also spoke about his ambition to return to the national team, with the World Cup on the horizon. _“I’m focused on the club right now,”_ he said. _“Of course, every player should set personal goals. I know that at the end of the season we’ll have the World Cup. The national team is a place where I want to return, and I know I will return. It’s about keeping my feet on the ground and continuing to work so I can get back there.”_
Toti added that he remains supportive of his international teammates. _“I’ve always supported the guys who are there,”_ he explained. _“I still speak to some of them. If they’re doing well, I’m happy too.”_
Wolves now face a difficult season in the Premier League and Vítor Pereira will be eager to get some new faces through the door as quickly as possible.