Wolves comment: No warning signs of Nuno's shock exit

I say 'almost' – it had been shuffled forwards half an hour earlier in the day. Perhaps for the enormous news ahead.

Less than an hour after Nuno disappeared from the screens of our Zoom press conference calls, Wolves confirmed that the head coach of four years was to depart Molineux after tomorrow's final game of the season.

The Portuguese showed absolutely no signs during his half hour with the broadcast and written media that he was about to step aside after an exhilarating four seasons.

The news is not entirely surprising. It has been a very difficult season for everybody in football. But Nuno, who has been kept away across continent from his family, has understandably been drained from the relentless schedule and soulless football, with no fans to cheer a goal or jeer a mistake.

Wolves' results have not been what they were over the two previous seasons. Neither is that surprising, given the supreme heights Nuno reached domestically and in Europe. And 12th in the Premier League is far from a disaster.

The press conference was not a short, sharp or spiky one – as can be the case with any manager when their side are not winning regularly.

Nuno seemed relaxed, content, at ease. He looked almost cheerful. He greeted every questioner with decorum and spoke with reporters by name. There were absolutely no clues or tell-tale signs of what was about to come.

The 47-year-old answered a range of subjects, including on Adama Traore's contract, Raul Jimenez's comeback latest, Pedro Neto's player of the year awards and recovery and the achievement of ensuring a fourth consecutive season of Premier League football.

He even spoke about plans for his players during the summer months, those away in tournaments with their national sides and those not.

Perhaps tellingly, the Wolves head coach would not entertain personal thoughts beyond the visit of Manchester United tomorrow – which will of course signal the return of limited fans inside Molineux, for what will now be an emotional farewell.

But this is not unusual. Nuno was probably just not wanting to disrespect Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's men, we might have thought. Focus on the final game and leave thoughts and reflections until after the final whistle.

Maybe the head coach simply did not want to talk about his own summer because it didn't included him as Wolves head coach.

Nuno was far from downbeat, however. He was chatty and gave answers the best he could through his broken English. That has not always been the case, with the former Porto and Valencia chief at times in years gone by not the most expressive with the media.

A thought that went through my mind was that the former goalkeeper was in a positive mood due to the imminent return of Wolves fans.

The head coach lit up further when thinking of the 4,000 permitted inside Molineux for the first time in 14 months this weekend. As he spoke it looked like a weight was lifted at the promise of being back among the pack.

But perhaps his thoughts were about one last farewell, a goodbye – which deserves a packed-out stadium. Instead it will be one which typifies the last year or so. But Nuno's time will live forever in the memory.