Dhaka Tribune Sports has decided to discuss last year’s performance, and potential of the teams in the forthcoming English Premier League.
In our series of discussion Saturday, we will analyze various aspects of Wolverhampton Wanderers, the west Midland club, a very successful outfit just after the Second World War, and for many a catalyst of the inception of the European Cup.
In 1954, English champion Wolves beat Hungarian side Honves, who were consisted of the erstwhile world’s best players like Ferenc Puskas and many of his Magical Magyars colleagues.
After the 3-2 win, the English press promptly claimed they are the “best” in Europe.
However, many other elite European clubs like Real Madrid and AC Milan disagreed and the thought gave birth to the European Cup to find out who is the actual best in the continent.
However, the glory days of the Molineux faded away soon and Wolves, winner of the top-flight league three times, descended to the lower tier leagues.
They returned to the EPL after a six-year absence following the 2017/18 season, and gave a great account of themselves against the biggest names, finishing seventh in the next two seasons.
The first time they finished seventh, in 2018/19, they qualified for European competition after a 39-year gap, where they exited to eventual Uefa Europa League champion Sevilla in the quarter-final.
Last season however, Wolves were not so lucky despite finishing seventh as Arsenal took away their Europa spot after beating Chelsea in the FA Cup final.
Despite the disappointment, the Molineux have once again impressed their way to the EPL top half, and will be further looking to break into the top four under Portuguese manager Nuno Espirito Santo.
Santo earlier took Wolves from the second tier to the top-flight at the first time of asking, and established his side as a banana skin for the bigger clubs.
Wolves’ fortunes started changing when they were taken over by Chinese investment group Fosun International in 2016, and it was the Chinese conglomerate who appointed former Valencia and Porto manager Santo, a goalkeeper in his playing years.
It was possible thanks to the friendship between Fosun International and Portuguese super-agent Jorge Mendes, who counts Santo as one of his many clients.
Alongside Santo, Wolves, under the management of Fosun, signed goalkeeper Rui Patricio, defensive midfielder Ruben Neves, wingers Diogo Jota, Pedro Neto and Daniel Podence and midfielder Joao Moutinho, all Portuguese internationals and Mendes’ clients.
Majority of these signings flourished under the 46-year old Santo, who after sparking a revolution at Wolves is now highly regarded in the EPL.
Center back Conor Coady, already the Wolves captain and touted to be the future England skipper, is one of Santo’s most trusted lieutenants alongside Patricio, Neves, Jota, Moutinho and Adama Traore.
The Wolves juggernaut though received a setback as one of their regular fixtures in the side, right back Matt Doherty moved to Tottenham Hotspur for 15m pounds, while Mexican hotshot, Raul Jimenez has strongly been linked with Juventus and Manchester United.
The 29-year old Jimenez scored 17 goals and provided six assists last season in the EPL where he started all but one game.
In the event of Jimenez’s departure, Santo will be hoping Spaniard powerhouse Traore steps up.
The heavily built 24-year old super athlete not only scored four goals and assisted nine times in last season’s EPL, his sheer presence is enough to create fear among the opposition ranks.
Wolves will begin their season away to Sheffield United on matchday one on September 15 in their bid to crack the top four and surely they will hunt some big preys in this season again to continue their resurgence in the top flight as a fearsome side.
