'Wolves cannot afford to lose emotional control in the relegation battle'
- Published
Wolves boss Vitor Pereira's criticism of Matheus Cunha's body language after Monday's 3-1 defeat at Chelsea, which left the side outside of the relegation zone on goal difference, should not come as a surprise.
It is an emotional group - former captain Mario Lemina's recent decision to make himself unavailable as he looks for a move the prime example.
Lemina clashed with West Ham's Jarrod Bowen in December, which led to him losing the armband, while Cunha himself has only just returned from a two-game ban for an altercation with a member of Ipswich's security staff.
Club psychologist Martin Littlewood, who initially joined under Julen Lopetegui, has been credited with helping to shape the culture and forming the messaging to the squad.
The staff, past and present, do not want the players to lose their identities - just channel their emotions more effectively.
They spoke about refusing to shake referees' hands to emphasise their frustration and anger at calls they viewed as incorrect.
Decisions like penalties awarded for Sheffield United and Newcastle were ruled as wrong by the Key Match Incidents panel - which reviews the Premier League's big calls.
Former boss Gary O'Neil managed to talk the players round, reasoning they had public support given fans could see the mistakes and they should not lose the court of public opinion.
Wolves are in a precarious position in 17th going into the visit of Arsenal to Molineux on Saturday - and cannot afford to lose emotional control in the relegation battle.
What do you think is the solution, Wolves fans? Can Pereira afford to bench Cunha with Lemina also not being picked for the rest of the transfer window?
