Wolves boss Vitor Pereira on how Premier League has unlocked his "best level"

Pereira has helped turn the tide at Wolves since succeeding Gary O'Neil in the dugout in December, winning three of his first nine league games at the helm to guide his side out of the relegation zone. 

They currently sit two points clear of the bottom three after beating West Midlands rivals Aston Villa 2-0 at Molineux before narrowly losing 2-1 against league leaders Liverpool at Anfield last Sunday. 

Pereira believes the "pressure" of managing in the English top-flight is something he thrives off and he expects that to be replicated by his players too.

He said: "I came from Saudi Arabia to the Premier League. Do you know why? Because here, I have pressure every time but I need this pressure to be at my best level, to put me thinking how to face this team and how to face that team. 

"To increase my level, I need to be here. I need to face different teams, top players. With the squad it's also the same because if I'm in a position where I don't have anybody and I feel comfortable, then I don't need to fight, I don't need to compete. 

"This is what I want in my team. This spirit. When I take out a player, it doesn't mean that in the next game, I wouldn't put him in again because I trust him." 

"We need to bring players to compete and to get the best out of everyone. Pablo Sarabia and Goncalo Guedes, they know that they have other players to compete with them.

"And for us, this is the good competition that I like to see on the team. Next game for sure, Pablo and Goncalo will play at a better level." 

Wolves face Bournemouth away on Saturday and welcome Fulham to Molineux on Tuesday night, before embarking on what feels like a crucial juncture in their season with fixtures against fellow relegation rivals Everton, Southampton and West Ham. 

Pereira feels he has a good group but that they will need to be "animals" at times to pick up wins.

"Believe me, this is a good group. In my career, I've worked with a lot of different group and this is a good group, with good people," he continued.

"But we cannot win with just good people - we must be very competitive. When we go into a game, we must see a transformation - our competitive side must show and we must show another different spirit. 

"We must go there and be animals, to fight and play with confidence. 

"Afterwards, we can be good people again."