Vitor Pereira keen to add 'physicality' to Wolves' midfield
Vitor Pereira is eager to add a physical midfielder to Wolves' ranks this season in order to get the most out of his system.
The head coach has persevered with two midfielders in a 5-2-3 formation since arriving at the club and has got some good performances out of first choice Joao Gomes and Andre.
But Wolves slumped to a third straight defeat with a loss at Chelsea on Monday, in a game that Andre struggled in, and Pereira wants additions after the club missed out on the signing of Manu Silva.
"When you play with just two midfielders, it's different when we play with three or when we play with two," Pereira said.
"The spaces to cover with two, they are bigger than with three.
"It means that they must be every time connected with each other, when we are with the ball and when we are without the ball and they are improving.
"We have more midfielders, but they have the skills to play with three, but to play with two, they're missing some skills, some physical skills.
"That's why I said that we need to look for a midfielder physically strong and technically strong, because to play the game that I like, they have to have technical quality, but physically, they must run a lot, they must cover a lot of metres.
"That's why I think we need to look for another one, at least."
When asked if he needs two midfielders if Mario Lemina departs this month, Pereira added: "In a perfect world, yes.
"But I think it's not possible. In this moment, it's not possible."
The pace of English football is something Pereira is also trying to instil in his side as he works on them being 'connected' at all times.
"I spoke with Andre, because when he was in Fluminense, I was in Corinthians," Pereira added.
"What the difference is, when we have a throw-in in Brazil, we have time to do it. We breathe a bit.
"We rest a bit. Calm. When we have a free-kick, when we have a corner.
"Here, if you sleep for 10 seconds, you will wake up losing the game, 1-0.
"This is the difference, because the game doesn't stop. The game never stops.
"You have to think faster, but this is something that I love.
"To be connected, to be one step ahead.
"If the ball is there, I'm looking there, because I want to prepare the next moment of the game.
"This is why we need to do it. I feel that I'm playing with my team."
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