MOLINEUX — Nuno Espirito Santo was serenaded by Wolves fans as he said his goodbyes to the supporters who had taken him to their hearts.
Emotions ran high as everyone realised the relationship was finally over.
You had to remind yourself that this was a man who had been sacked this week.
Most fans cannot wait to see the back of a manager when that happens – but this Molineux crowd could not get enough of him.
The departing manager bowed down in praise to the fans, while Wolves’ players formed a guard of honour in tribute as applause from 4,000 supporters echoed around the ground.
In the end, it wasn’t the result he had been looking to bow out on as Juan Mata’s first half penalty decided the game.
But as the final whistle approached, the ground rang to the tune of “Nuno, we love you” and “Nuno Santo, he’s one of our own”.
There was also one last punch of the air to fans – a regular feature at the end of matches, usually accompanied by a victory.
Nuno had arrived to fans welcoming him before even entering the stadium.
The atmosphere inside had a surreal air to it. Supporters were allowed in for the final home game of the season, only to find they were saying goodbye to the manager who had achieved folk hero status since arriving in 2017.
Wolves fans will not forget what Nuno has done for them during that time. He lifted the club out of the Championship, into the Premier League’s top seven and brought European football back to the club for the first time in 39 years. They also came within 90 minutes of an FA Cup appearance.
This season fell short Chinese owner’s Fosun’s expectations, although injuries to key players such as Raul Jimenez, who suffered a fractured skull at Arsenal in November, did not help Nuno.
Whatever the supporters’ reaction to this season has been at home, the response when Nuno appeared from the players’ tunnel for the final time was unequivocal.
“Nuno’s the Special One,” they sang, with flags proclaiming “Nuno had a dream” on show.
Wolves’ chief executive Jeff Shi emerged to some fans singing “You don’t know what you’re doing” following the surprise news which broke just 48 hours earlier, that Nuno was leaving the building.
But he knew he was going five days before it was officially announced.
The bombshell news even appeared to catch the match day programme print deadlines unaware with Nuno’s notes telling fans: “Next season, we’ll be back”.
Nuno gathered his staff for a now customary group hug when Nelson Samedo equalised a first half goal from Manchester United’s Anthony Elanga.
There was a low note for the Portuguese manager who has made his support for players taking the knee in support of Black Lives Matter clear all season. So Nuno would not have been happy to have heard boos from a section of fans as the teams made the gesture.
But it was emotions of the four years of Nuno’s stay that came out at the end – with both manager and fans wondering what will happen next.
from Football – inews.co.uk https://ift.tt/2Tfq5Av
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