Julen Lopetegui joining Wolves at ‘right moment’ despite Premier League struggles
The Spaniard was first approached by the Midlands club back in 2016
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Six years later than it once could have been, Julen Lopetegui is hoping to hit the ground running at Wolverhampton Wanderers as their new manager.
The former Real Madrid boss has signed a three-year contract to be the Midlands club’s successor to Bruno Lage, who was sacked at the start of October.
Lopetegui, who initially turned the club down in October over concerns with his father’s health, arrives with Wolves bottom of the Premier League having scored just eight goals.
He could have joined back in 2016, however, when the club first tried to tempt him before he became Spain boss.
“Six years ago I had a possibility to be here. Now I am here, it is the right moment,” he said. “I want to be here and I want to be in the Premier League. I know it’s not the best situation but we are sure we are going to change by working very hard in the next month.
“I believe in the players, in the club and together we can have a good future. When I was free they wanted me to come here, a month ago, but I had a family problem. They respected that, now fortunately my situation is better. I am very happy it’s happened and I’m here.”
The ex-Sevilla boss is also intent on adding reinforcements to the squad in January.
“When the market opens we have this possibility and we are going to do that,” he said. “I’m not going to speak about names because the most important thing, with the next four matches we have to play, is this squad. We believe in this squad, we are going to work very hard.”
Lopetegui’s first game will be the Carabao Cup fourth-round tie at home to Gillingham next month, with the season now on hold for the World Cup, before facing Everton away when the top flight resumes on Boxing Day.
“We are aware we have to change some things in the team, the mentality of the players,” added the 56-year-old, whose new side are four points from safety.
“We’re not thinking about the table, just the next match. We have a lot of finals in front of us and we have to play them one-by-one.”
One boost after the World Cup break would be the return of talismanic striker Raul Jimenez.
Jimenez has not featured for Wolves since August and has managed just four appearances while he struggles with a groin injury.
The 31-year-old spent three weeks in Mexico last month as part of his rehabilitation and has been linking up the national team, although he was at Molineux to watch Wolves’ 2-0 defeat to Arsenal on Saturday.
“I have spoken with Raul, I am worried about him because he doesn’t play a minute with his team, Wolves,” he added.
“We need all of them but we need Raul fit and the best version. I hope he will come back here in this way. The most important thing is not the World Cup, it’s Wolves. I respect the decision of the player and the coach but above all for me it’s Wolves.
“The goals are about the team, when you play well you have more chances. The first aim is to improve all of the team.
“I believe if we improve the performances we will have more chances in each match. The players we have are able to score more. We are not happy with the numbers and we have to improve.”
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