Wolves boss focused on pre-season 'emotional connection' instead of results
Vitor Pereira insists he is not concerned about results in pre-season as he builds the 'emotional connection' in his Wolves side.
Wolves have recently returned home from Portugal, where they lost 2-1 to Santa Clara and drew 1-1 with Burnley in behind closed doors training matches.
They face Stoke this weekend in the first of three friendlies scheduled in England but Pereira - who has so far used a few academy players to fill out the squad - is less worried about results and more concerned with testing out his players and seeing how the young talents adapt.
"In this moment, I'm not worried about the results in pre-season," Pereira said.
"We have some players with us from the academy, this is time to understand the personalities, to understand which player can help us, which player can stay with us.
"I'm not worried about the results. I have some good surprises and I understand sometimes in the end of a training I need to go to some players and say to them, 'no worries, this is the time to make mistakes. This is time to correct mistakes'.
"This is time to understand that it's a different level of pressure, of intensity.
"If I ask them to play in one touch or two touches, it's a problem because of the pace. But this is the time for them to understand what is the level that we need in the future.
"It means they can make mistakes, they can understand. Sometimes in the end of a training I need to go there and say, 'no worries, I understand. This is the time to do mistakes, no worries'."
The head coach has been big on togetherness and has worn his heart on his sleeve since being appointed in December.
And Pereira is eager to use pre-season to further strengthen the bonds between the players and staff ahead of the new campaign.
"Football is not only about tactical things, it's about friendship, it's about connection, emotional connection," Pereira added.
"It's a time to be together, to talk, to share the experience and to connect.
"It's important when you want to sell ideas and convince the players to buy the idea.
"Now, it's not the case because we started to sell the idea a few months ago, but it's important for me.
"The most important thing is to prepare the team for the first and second game. If you don't have a good start, it's something that the club experienced in the last season.
"It's important to build something consistent and this is the time to build something consistent to start well."
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