Cesar Peixoto expects to make changes when Wolverhampton Wanderers FC face Portsmouth on Tuesday, as the club tries to back up Friday’s win at Burnley and keep momentum in the Championship.
The head coach said Wolves have already had to deal with injuries and players returning from international duty, and that the quick turnaround means he has to manage minutes carefully. He noted that all three games last week have taken a toll, but not every team now has another three-match week to deal with.
“We have to manage the situation,” Peixoto said. “All the teams had three games last week, but not all of them have another three games this week. Because of that, we have to manage the players’ minutes carefully and avoid taking risks with injuries. We already have a lot of injuries, and we don’t want any more.”
Peixoto wants a strong enough team to win at home
Wolves are trying to secure back-to-back Championship wins, and Peixoto said he will assess how his squad recovers before finalising his plans. He added that he wants to build a team strong enough to win at home against Portsmouth, but first he needs to see how the players feel physically.
“I have to analyse Portsmouth and see how the players recover. Then we’ll try to build a strong team to win at home. That’s important,” he said. “Every game in the Championship is difficult, and we have to select the players who are in the best condition to fight for the three points. I think we’ll make changes, but first we have to see how the players feel physically.”
Peixoto had already made clear in the summer that he wanted two players for every position, and he said this kind of schedule is exactly why. He pointed to the three-game week as a test of depth and recovery, especially with so many players involved across the stretch.
“When I lose, I like to play the next game as soon as possible because I want to win. But we have to manage the situation. That’s why I’ve spoken so many times about wanting two players for every position. I knew the Championship would be very tough,” he said.
He also said that confidence in the squad has allowed him to use most of his players heavily. “If you look at these three games last week, almost all the players played. That’s because I have confidence in them. I always say that, and I do what I say. The players know that.”
One player in particular is still working his way back. Peixoto called him an important player, but said he is not yet at 100 per cent and has looked short of rhythm since returning from the international break. He has featured in all three games, though not for 90 minutes each time.
“He’s getting better, better and better,” Peixoto said. “He still has to improve and get back to the level he showed before. I always want better and better from him, from me and from everybody.”
With the match against Portsmouth coming quickly after Friday’s trip to Turf Moor, Peixoto said the challenge is not only selection but also mentality. He wants players on the bench as well as in the starting eleven ready to contribute immediately, and he believes that standard can make Wolves difficult to play against if it is maintained consistently.
“It’s very important. All the players, whether they’re in the starting eleven or on the bench, have to be ready all the time,” he said. “They need the right mentality to help the team, come onto the pitch and carry out the tasks we want them to perform.”
That message sums up where Wolves are heading into Tuesday: a busy schedule, some injury concerns, and a likely reshuffle, but also a clear belief that the right mentality can keep the run going.
