Cristian previews Wolves: “We have to bring our anger with us to this game”
Fri 03 March 2023, 18:05|
Tottenham Hotspur
Antonio Conte and Cristian Stellini know all about Wolves’ new boss, Julen Lopetegui.
They came up against Lopetegui in a European final during their time with Inter.
Then boss of Sevilla, Lopetegui led the Spanish side to a thrilling 3-2 win against Antonio’s Inter side in the UEFA Europa League Final at Cologne’s RheinEnergieSTADION during lockdown in August, 2020. Inter recovered to win the Serie A title the following season, 2020/21.
Lopetegui was still at Sevilla when we met in the Coupang Play Series in South Korea in July and took over at Wolves in November. Bottom when he arrived, Lopetegui has won four of his 10 matches so far - including a 3-0 win against Liverpool - and lifted Wolves up to 15th.
Now, with Antonio completing his recovery from surgery in Italy this weekend, Cristian will lock horns with the former Spain and Real Madrid coach at Molineux on Saturday (3pm).
Speaking to SPURSPLAY after training on Friday, Cristian told us about Lopetegui’s impact at Molineux. “He has changed a lot,” he said. “Wolves are a more flexible team now, more dynamic in the way they build up and in the way they play.
“Also, they are more aggressive in the way they defend. Lopetegui is a great manager. We know this very well because we faced him in the final of the Europa League. We respect him and we respect this Wolves team, a team with important players. We know this will be a tough game.”
Cristian expects a reaction to our FA Cup loss at Bramall Lane - not forgetting that we’ve won four of our last five in the Premier League, keeping clean sheets in those wins against Fulham, City, West Ham and Chelsea to sit fourth in the table.
“I hope to see immediately again the desire, the mentality and the atmosphere we created in the last two matches in the Premier League,” he said. “We play an away game, and we have to show the same away as we do at home.
“Every one of us started to grow a great anger after the game (against Sheffield United), because it was not acceptable to lose this type of game with the opportunity we had to progress in the FA Cup. Now, we have to bring this anger with us in the next game against Wolves, to be ready to challenge and try to win.”
