We’re all guilty of ignoring the job Vitor Pereira has done at Wolves

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There was an article in The Times last week by chief correspondent Martin Samuel in which he bemoaned (reasonably) the struggles of the promoted clubs to be competitive this season. In it, Samuel wrote:

“Leicester City were not in the relegation places until Ruud van Nistelrooy arrived, so his appointment has been disastrous; against that, the small improvement under Vítor Pereira has saved Wolverhampton Wanderers.”

I think that assessment of Wolves under Pereira is probably fairly widespread outside the club’s own supporters. Nobody is arguing that Leicester haven’t been appalling on the pitch under Van Nistelrooy, but I think people are sleeping on Wolves’ improvement since Gary O’Neil was sacked.

Since Pereira’s appointment on 19 December, Wolves sit eighth in a Premier League table behind the current top six and Crystal Palace. And Sunday’s 4-2 victory over Tottenham moved them 14 points clear of the relegation zone with just six games left to play. Bear in mind that he took over a team that was 19th in the Premier League with nine points from 16 games and five points behind Leicester City.

Pereira has changed Wolves’ formation. He has changed their style of play. He has made them more dangerous in attack and more miserly in defence. He has dealt with the absence of – and constant transfer rumours surrounding – their best attacking player, Matheus Cunha, and made Wolves a better side without him. He’s got no chance of winning Manager of the Year, but Pereira has done a fantastic job.

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