Nelson Semedo interview: Wolves captain on Vitor Pereira’s impact and how the new coach has changed things

Wolves looked bound for relegation under Gary O’Neil. Their defensive record was one of the worst in Premier League history and chaos threatened to consume the club. Three games later and new coach Vitor Pereira has them out of the relegation zone.

His first two fixtures brought two wins without conceding, the first back-to-back clean sheets of the season. A late equaliser at Tottenham made it seven points from nine. Suddenly, there is talk of Wolves being revitalised, the mood completely transformed.

“The main thing we needed was a change,” Nelson Semedo tells Sky Sports. “Vitor arrived with his staff and after three days we looked a different team. A better team. A better version of us. We all knew we had that. But we could not reach that level before.

“It all started on the training pitch. At the end of the day, it was about the details. It took maybe two hours for him to explain how he wanted us to play, how he wanted us to press, how he wanted us to defend. Everyone is happy with that now. And we carry on.”

Pereira soon won over the supporters, who embraced him from day one, and he has admitted that it was a pleasant surprise how fast that connection was forged. But just as important is the relationship with his players. That came together quickly too.

“He is very demanding but he is also a very good human being. For example, we had a couple of days off around New Year because he realised we deserved that. He knows when to give the guys a little sweet. They came back happier and with more energy.”

What has Pereira changed?

O’Neil had talked of players having ‘trouble coping with the level’ and claimed that the group was ‘performing pretty much near maximum’ but those words look wide of the mark already. Matheus Cunha stands out but there is quality elsewhere in this team.

Given that his predecessor had the air of a man who had tried everything, it is worth noting that Pereira has made some smart changes. Rodrigo Gomes came in and scored his first Premier League goal. Jose Sa was restored and saved a penalty against Spurs.

Andre, a 23-year-old Brazil international signed late in the summer, had been cast as a problem to solve but has been superb under Pereira. His sure touch in tight spaces and willingness to tackle means his partnership with Joao Gomes is beginning to blossom.

Goncalo Guedes had started only once under O’Neil but opened the scoring at Leicester, starting back-to-back games for Wolves for the first time in over two years. “He is happy here and really focused. I think he is a different man now,” says Semedo.

The two have known each other for years since their time together in Benfica’s B team. “He has a really good understanding of the game and he plays on my side as well, so we don’t even have to talk. He has really settled in and he is doing really well for us.”

Another obvious switch by Pereira was to restore Semedo himself to his favoured wing-back role, moving Matt Doherty inside to play on the right side of the back three where the Portuguese had been deployed during the latter stages of O’Neil’s time in charge.

Despite his physicality, Doherty had never really been used there previously. But the Irishman has been excellent in the role and it has allowed Semedo to get back to doing what he does best. “I am high up the pitch again. To be honest, it is where I prefer to be.”

He explains: “Doc can play centre-back but that right-back knowledge is helping us. It is easy for us to communicate because he knows the movements, knows that when I press up, he has to come to that side. It is making us strong on that side defensively.”

More compact defensively

Tightening up has been essential. Wolves were effectively playing 4-2-4 for the second half of their home defeat to Ipswich in O’Neil’s final game. The gaps were too big. Pereira has made them more compact and restored some control, precisely what was required.

“We have the centre-backs, the wingers and the defensive midfielders, but we also have Cunha and Guedes as the No 10s, dropping deeper, which gives us time to react when we lose the ball.

“I am pretty sure that you guys are able to see that change too. What it means is that even when we lose the ball, we are able to win it back straight away because we are all close to each other.”

The expected goals against was below one in each of Pereira’s first two matches, those wins over Leicester and Manchester United. O’Neil and even Julen Lopetegui before him never once managed that in back-to-back Premier League games as Wolves manager.

Can they beat Forest?

One man who did manage it was Nuno Espirito Santo – 21 times, in fact. There is a feeling inside the club that Wolves must get back to that. Back to being tough to beat. Become a serious side again. Wolves face Nuno’s Nottingham Forest side on Monday.

Forest visit Molineux in the Champions League places, a template for what is possible. “To be honest, I am not surprised,” says Semedo, “because I know how demanding he is as well. How good he is, how good his staff is. They are very good at what they do.

Monday 6th January 6:30pm


Kick off 8:00pm

“We know it is going to be a tough game, but they should expect a very good opponent as well, playing at home with a loud crowd who will be pushing us on. We have that confidence back that we wanted to have now. It feels like we are in a good place again.”

Nuno was the man in charge when Semedo signed for Wolves in the summer of 2020, swapping the Nou Camp of Barcelona for the South Bank of Molineux as the supporters’ song about him goes. Semedo is a favourite now but that first season was tricky.

Improvement and captaincy

“My first season was not good enough. I was not prepared for the Premier League. I had been playing in teams that were used to having the ball. Benfica had 70 per cent possession. Every game for Barcelona was the same. This was a different team.

“Defending and then playing on the counter-attack, it was quite hard for me and very physical. I think it took me some time to adapt but that is normal because this is the best league in the world. I have improved. I am completely settled now and enjoying it.”

Indeed, he is Wolves’ captain now after Mario Lemina was stripped of the role following an altercation at West Ham last month. Semedo has a different mentality. “I think I am balanced. I try not to be too emotional and I think everyone trusts me,” he says.

“The armband identifies one captain but I want to encourage everyone to feel that responsibility of being like a captain. I have their back and I am pushing them on. I think that is a better way to bring the group together – and that is the most important thing.”

Semedo’s future at Wolves

Now 31, Semedo has certainly not lost his speed when flying up that flank. He ranks among Wolves’ fastest players and there are only two players over 30 to have clocked a higher top speed in the Premier League this season – Kyle Walker and Heung-Min Son.

“I still feel really good,” he insists, our conversation having been slightly delayed by his extra work in the treatment room. “I have to take care of my body the best I can because I still have, I would say, five more years of football. But I feel great, to be honest.”

Where is that future? Semedo was Wolves’ players’ player of the season last time around, but his contract is up in the summer and there are no imminent signs of a new deal. Is he on his way out? “I would not say that. We still have six months,” he counters.

“We have to talk with the club, see what the club wants, what I want as well. And see what is better for both sides. I have been here for five years and it has been really good. And I love the Premier League as well. So yeah, let’s see what the future holds for us.”

As for Wolves’ future, Semedo is optimistic – even if they must face Forest without the suspended Cunha. “It is a very big loss for us but we did really good in the second half against Tottenham without him.” Indeed, Wolves finally look upwardly mobile again.

They had more of the ball against United and Spurs, but there is more to come from their possession game under Pereira. “We still have to improve on that. But then, it has been two weeks and we have already had a big change. It is getting better and better.”

Watch Monday Night Football between Wolves and Nottingham Forest from 6.30pm on Sky Sports Premier League; kick-off 8pm