Wolverhampton Wanderers

Joe Bradshaw
BBC Sport Senior Journalist

Wolves boss Vitor Pereira has been speaking to the media before Saturday's Premier League game against Arsenal at Molineux (kick-off 17:30 GMT).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• Pereira could not confirm if there had been any bids for striker Matheus Cunha: "I don't know. That is a question for the club. He is my player – I think he is not for sale. This is the information from the club."

• However, he did say he had spoken with Cunha after criticising his captain for his performance against Chelsea on Monday: "He knows what I want from him as a captain. We had a conversation and everything is sorted. He is ready for the game, committed to us and ready to help the team. What we need from him is that he plays at his high level. He is very important."

• Previous captain Mario Lemina will not be involved against Arsenal but could still stay at Molineux beyond January: "I am waiting for the end of the market and we will decide what we do. If he stays here, he will be a very good player for us. He has lots of quality."

• Centre-back Toti Gomes should be available to boost Pereira's options.

• Pereira wants to return to the form that saw Wolves take seven points from his first three games in charge: "I believe in my players and our work. We are facing strong teams but we are still together, still believing and ready to play at our best level."

• Therefore, he hopes to put the defeat at Stamford Bridge behind him: "The last game was not good because we changed a lot of behaviours and that is not what I want. I want us to have identity and to play in our way – not to react to the other team."

• On how he works with different personalities to get the best out of them: "This is my job. I need to pass the confidence and hunger to them - to understand the fire in their eyes. Football is about people and we need to create good energy together with our supporters to be at our best."

• He also accepted this process takes time but is actually easier to do when in a difficult spell of results: "You can know about a person in bad moments. I'm trying to understand who are the fighters - the leaders - while in the middle of the storm."

• On title-chasing Arsenal: "Arsenal are a strong team but we need to worry about ourselves."

Follow all of Friday's Premier League news conferences and the rest of the day's football news

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Arsenal have scored in their past 34 meetings with Wolves, since a 1-0 home loss in February 1979. It is both the Gunners' longest scoring streak against an opponent, and Wolves' longest run without a clean sheet against a side.

Name this former Wolves manager from the following clues:

• I played for Watford in the 1984 FA Cup final.

• I spent three years in charge of Wolves, winning promotion in my first season.

• Among the other English clubs I have managed are Millwall and Portsmouth.

Answer will be revealed at 17:00 GMT

This Premier League pursuit becomes a lot easier if you take your chances.

BBC Sport has checked in on some data comparing goals versus expected goals this season.

You can see from the bar graph some teams aren't finding the goals (yellow) to outstrip the expected goals they should score (black).

Tottenham, Manchester City, Arsenal, Brentford, Newcastle, Brighton, Fulham, Nottingham Forest, Wolves and Leicester have all scored more than expected.

Wolves in particular have found the net 32 times from an expected 23.56 - a significant overperformance.

League leaders Liverpool are pretty much bang on in returning what they should, while Arsenal have outperformed, with 43 goals from an expected 37.78.

Bournemouth - 36 goals from an expected 43 - are leaving opportunities on the table.

Wolves have rejected an opening offer from Millwall for midfielder Luke Cundle, who is also wanted by Swansea City and Bristol City. (Express and Star), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Friday's full gossip column

Follow the gossip column on BBC Sport

Nottingham Forest are preparing a club-record bid, possibly in the region of £60m, to try lure Brazil forward Matheus Cunha, 25, away from Wolves. (Sky Sports, external)

Want more transfer stories? Read Thursday's full gossip column

Follow the gossip column on BBC Sport

Nick Mashiter
BBC Sport football news reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Striker Matheus Cunha is expected to stay at Wolves this season, despite intense speculation over his future.

The Premier League strugglers have not received any offer or had any contact for the 10-goal forward, despite reported interest from Nottingham Forest and Arsenal.

Sources have told BBC Sport that Wolves are relaxed about the 25-year-old's future while he has two and a half years left on his contract.

Discussions about a new deal are ongoing.

Cunha has 26 goals in 78 appearances for Wolves since joining, initially on loan, from Atletico Madrid two years ago - before a club record £44m transfer.

He is Wolves' top scorer this season with Vitor Pereira's side 17th in the Premier League going into Saturday's visit of Arsenal to Molineux.

Following Monday's 3-1 defeat by Chelsea, Cunha was criticised by Pereira for his body language.

Mike Taylor
BBC Radio WM reporter

Image source, Getty Images

"Rodrigo is a fighter," said Vitor Pereira recently, identifying one of the two traits that might make his young winger Rodrigo Gomes a good person to have around for the rest of this season, quite apart from his footballing ability.

The other is that he smiles a lot. I found this out when interviewing him after he had scored his first Premier League goal, in Pereira's first game at Leicester just before Christmas.

Looking at him, you would have thought it already was Christmas, as he beamed and bubbled about his day. On the field, he had celebrated what had been quite a slapstick goal as if it had been a 30-yard screamer in the last minute of a cup final.

Perhaps one day we will find out how he will react if he does score a 30-yard screamer in the last minute of a cup final. I can't imagine, but it will be fun finding out.

This is worth mentioning because a sense of sullenness has descended on Wolves again over the past week or so, after the initial jab of positivity from Pereira's arrival.

It was always possible that this section of the fixture list would drag down spirits. Wolves have faced three teams in a row that are competing for European places next season, and conceded three goals to each of them.

The next few games are likely to be just as hard and, to make things worse, senior players until recently considered the brightest lights at the club - the captain and the best player - are at the centre of controversies that might ultimately result in both leaving.

However those unwanted dramas play out, Wolves will need everyone who remains to share the load, and keep their heads up.

Gomes is one of those who offers hope of this. With gifts of speed and energy, he caught the eye in pre-season, but faded in the autumn, perhaps considered a little too raw to be risked in a perilous situation.

But it may be just that uncomplicated freshness that Wolves will need to show a way forward.

Gomes' goal in the FA Cup tie at Bristol City - a far slicker job than the one at Leicester - was a good sign that he is learning to fit in to Pereira's design.

He, and other young players emerging into the harsh light on Wolves at the moment, will learn a lot in the next few months whatever happens, but some natural, bouncy optimism will serve him well.

Keep smiling, Rodrigo.

Listen to full commentary of Wolves v Arsenal at 15:00 GMT on Saturday on BBC Radio WM (DAB, Freeview 714 and BBC Sounds)

Tune into The West Midlands Football Phone-In from 18:00 on weeknights

Nottingham Forest have made forward Matheus Cunha their top January target in the push for Champions League qualification. (Mail, external)

Meanwhile, Arsenal have also shown firm interest in signing Cunha in the January transfer window. (Fichajes, external)

Want more transfer stories? Read Wednesday's full gossip column

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Former Wolves striker Jay Bothroyd says "the body language of certain players doesn't look right" and that has to change when fighting to stay up.

It follows manager Vitor Pereira's criticism of the behaviour of forward Matheus Cunha in their 3-1 defeat at Chelsea on Monday.

"It is not good to have bad eggs within the squad," Bothroyd told BBC Radio 5 Live. "Cunha has had a great season so far but it looked like he was playing for himself against Chelsea. He was making the wrong decisions and shooting from everywhere.

"The transfer window is open so maybe he is thinking about leaving."

Cunha, who has scored 10 league goals for Wolves this season, is the latest player to catch the headlines after midfielder Mario Lemina said he wanted to leave the club and asked not to play in their 3-0 defeat at Newcastle on 15 January.

Pereira said he will not play while the January transfer window is open despite him apologising to his team-mates.

Nick Mashiter
BBC Sport football news reporter

Image source, Getty Images

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.

Last season, the squad wanted to protest against VAR and refereeing decisions which went against them.

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?

Let us know your thoughts

We asked for your thoughts after Monday's Premier League game between Chelsea and Wolves.

Here are some of your comments:

Chelsea fans:

Mathew: We were playing really well until the first goal - and then we let Wolves get back into it with the equaliser right on half-time. However, in the second half we were better by getting those two goals in five minutes. It was great to see Trevoh Chalobah starting for us again and I thought he put in a great performance and didn't put a foot wrong. It was also good to see Tyrique George coming on. I still think we may need to recall Lesley Ugochukwu from his loan at Southampton to give Enzo Maresca more midfield depth.

Chris: Another calamitous performance from Robert Sanchez and Nicolas Jackson was not much better. When is Maresca going to sort this out? It took away from a largely better performance. We need a world-class keeper and striker soon if we are to progress!

Shane: Typical Chelsea performance and roughly what I expected this season. Over-performed at the end of the year. Missing a strong core in the side. Sanchez and Jackson are not good enough to compete for major trophies. Top four would be a great achievement in my eyes.

Wolves fans:

Kevin: Awful defending yet again. Couldn't believe it when we levelled but normal service resumed after the break. Fosun needs to wake up and get a central defender and striker in or it will be a Championship team next season.

Giorgio: I am always supportive and I can usually find positives in the hardest times. Not this time. This is a depressing performance all over the pitch. Fans are constantly hoping and asking for new players in this January window, but we have to change our mentality first. Now! The confidence is too low for a relegation fight and Vitor Pereira knows that.

Jon: Gutless. No fight, determination, tenacity or character, and unable to carry out basic defensive duties. Chelsea were far from stellar and there were opportunities on the counter-attack, but we gifted the game to them with calamitous defending. We look like a team heading for the drop. So poor.

Image source, Getty Images

Wolves fan Suzanne Waterhouse believes "there's something not quite right" at the club and has questioned the players' commitment.

Speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live Breakfast about the apparent attitude of some of the Wolves' squad during their defeat at Chelsea, Waterhouse said: "The body language of some of our players - I don't know what's going on.

"[Matheus] Cunha, our prized asset, he didn't seem to be in the game. I don't know what it was.

"It was a pretty poor show. We were OK in spells, but there was something not quite right."

Vitor Pereira has now been in charge of Wolves for seven games, and talking about the Portuguese, Waterhouse added: "We're down in the doldrums. We had a little honeymoon period when he first came, but our next little run of games is tough.

"It's down to the players. They've got to want to play for the team and manager. Sadly, there seem to be some that are not there.

"I hate to see people not wanting to play for the shirt."

Nizaar Kinsella
BBC Sport football news reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Wolves manager Vitor Pereira criticised star attacker Matheus Cunha for his body language and for seemingly not acknowledging the away fans after Monday's 3-1 defeat at Chelsea.

Pereira said: "He can be frustrated as he wants to win, but everyone in the dressing room wants to win.

"I don't like this body language. I want someone, as a captain, trying to help the team - running, suffering and fighting all together. But this is something I can understand. Next time, I won't understand."

After the game, Cunha denied that he exited the pitch without thanking the away fans, with a video on social media appearing to support his point of view.

However, when Pereira was asked directly about it, he said: "This is something I cannot understand.

"Again, it is the frustration - which I understand - but we need to be together. Together we can fix the problems and stay in the Premier League.

"If we start complaining about this and that, this is not the way. He is committed to Wolves but when you keep hearing about other clubs, then it is human [to be distracted].

"But he needs to put his mind on his targets and increase his level after injury and help his team again with his quality. The team needs him with good energy and not with frustration. He must slow down and put his mind in the right way."

Wolves have 16 points from 22 matches and are outside of the relegation zone only on goal different from third-bottom Ipswich Town.

Image source, Getty Images

Wolves defender Matt Doherty also spoke to Sky Sports after the defeat at Chelsea: "Everyone knows about Chelsea's quality. It kind of felt like we weren't at the races at the start. There were periods in the game when we were pressing well and looked like we might do something, but not for long enough.

"Against every team in the Premier League you have to be on it for 90 minutes and I just thought there were too many times where we weren't on it."

On conceding more goals: "We are working hard during the week. Tonight it was a couple of set-piece second phases. It is the basic stuff where we need to stay switched on. It is more a concentration thing when the ball comes into the box.

"Set-pieces can also be an attitude thing. You have to want the ball to come to you, or you have to want to attack it. We need to start putting our head in where it hurts."

On how the team is progressing under Vitor Pereira: "When he came in we got ourselves a few good results, got into the next round of the cup as well. But we've got a run of fixtures now.

"We were looking at games like this, like Newcastle, as fixtures where we could pick up some points. We have Arsenal at home next and those home games you have to be looking at getting points.

"He has come in and brought a new lease of life to a lot of the players - myself included. Maybe he gets the message across a lot better to the Portuguese speaking players - they seem to have taken to him well.

"He has done really well and we like his ideas. We just need to be better than today."

Image source, Getty Images

Wolves boss Vitor Pereira, speaking to Sky Sports after their loss at Chelsea on Monday: "We faced a strong team with players who can create chances one against one. We started the game not in the way that I like. We defended too much in the low block.

"We conceded two goals from set-pieces and a goal that we cannot concede. We need to improve tactical maturity.

"The worst moment of our game is when we are defending in the last third; when we are defending in front of our box. This is a problem for us."

Did you know?

Wolves have lost their first three league games to start a calendar year for the first time since 1982 - a season they were relegated from the top flight.

Meanwhile, Wanderers have conceded 11 goals from corners in the Premier League this season, more than any other team. They have also let in 19 goals from set-pieces (excluding penalties), which is at least seven more than any other side.

Image source, Getty Images

It was a familiar story for Wolves at Stamford Bridge.

They have now conceded 19 goals from defensive set pieces (excluding penalties) this season.

That is seven more than any other side and contributes to them having the worst defence in the Premier League.

Two of those 19 goals came in this game.

The first was a lapse of concentration from Matheus Cunha, failing to get out with the rest of his defence, while the second saw Jose Sa in no-mans land and Trevoh Chalobah climb above everyone.

It is an area that Vitor Pereira will need to sort out quickly if Wolves are want to avoid a real battle to survive.

Were you at the game or following from elsewhere?

What did you make of Chelsea's display?

Have your say on Wolves' performance

Come back to this page on Tuesday to find a selection of your replies

Dazzling Dave
Fan writer

Image source, Getty Images

Creating goalscoring opportunities in the Premier League is no small task, yet Wolves have consistently managed to do so. However, a glaring lack of clinical finishing in decisive moments is now dragging the team closer to relegation.

Surprisingly, Wolves rank among the league's top teams for shot conversion at 10.8%. When their attack clicks, Wolves display swift transitions and precision in front of goal, making them an imposing threat.

Yet, this efficiency has faltered at critical moments, particularly with key players like Matheus Cunha sidelined, which has only exacerbated the problem.

The consecutive 3-0 defeats by Newcastle and Nottingham Forest highlighted these struggles. At St James' Park, Wolves failed to convert multiple chances, with Jorgen Strand Larsen missing a pivotal one-on-one opportunity in the first half.

Meanwhile, Newcastle's Alexander Isak and Anthony Gordon demonstrated the clinical edge Wolves lack. Similarly, against Forest, several chances went begging, including two clear-cut opportunities missed by Larsen.

The Norwegian, despite his tally of seven goals and two assists this season, has faced increasing criticism from fans. Interestingly, he is on track to produce numbers similar to Raul Jimenez's debut campaign, where the striker recorded 13 goals and seven assists - and he turned out to ne not too shabby!

However, Larsen is not the only one to blame. Gonçalo Guedes, Pablo Sarabia, and Hwang Hee-chan have also struggled to capitalise on clear-cut opportunities at crucial moments.

Of course, even elite strikers like Mohamed Salah and Erling Haaland occasionally miss golden opportunities. But what sets them apart is their ability to bounce back immediately, converting the next chance with composure.

Wolves, by contrast, seem to be struggling to shake off missed opportunities.

If Wolves are to survive, they must rediscover their clinical edge while addressing their defensive frailties - conceding goals at key moments has added further pressure on the misfiring attack.

There have been glimpses of potential, and the talent to turn their fortunes around is evident. However, if Wolves continue wasting chances, it will cost them their Premier League status.

Find more from Dazzling Dave at Always Wolves, external