Wolves head coach fires warning over squad discipline

In the final days of Gary O'Neil's tenure, an over-emotional squad boiled over in embarrassing fashion in front of the world's cameras.

Jose Sa charged into the South Bank at half-time in the loss to Bournemouth, before Mario Lemina scrapped with his own players and coaches following the defeat to West Ham.

In the same week as the Lemina incident - which cost him the captaincy - Rayan Ait-Nouri and Matheus Cunha both lashed out at the final whistle as Wolves slumped to a loss against Ipswich and fell deeper into their relegation battle.

That loss cost O'Neil his job and Pereira now arrives aiming to restore order to a squad that has lost their way.

As he was unveiled to the media for his first job in English football, Pereira warned his players that he will not tolerate any more outbursts.

"The communication is important and the rules are important," the new boss said.

"We have rules, discipline, tactical discipline and responsibility.

"When I do something bad, the consequence comes later. 

"It means that we need to slow down our emotions a little bit and have control. It will be important.

"When the result doesn't happen, you start to be nervous and lose focus a little bit.

"This is the moment that we need to look inside ourselves and what we can do to help the team.

"We need to think not about ourselves, but about the team. 

"I'm not a guy to punish when someone does their first mistake, but the second mistake with me is a problem."

When asked how he will punish any players that step out of line, Pereira added: "It depends on the situation, you could stay out (of the team), we will see.

"I hope with the communication we can avoid this kind of situation."

That communication will be aided by Pereira's strong English skills - having learned the language over a number of years after three times coming close to the job at Everton.

"My English is not perfect," he said.

"In the first meeting I had with the players I spoke about my English and said sorry, but they said to me at the end that they understood everything.

"I speak a little bit of French, I speak Spanish and Portuguese, meaning I can communicate with everybody.

"Even Larsen speaks Spanish, so it's easier to communicate with them."

Pereira's arrival at Wolves brings to an end his long-running ambition to manage in the Premier League.

He becomes the third Portuguese manager to take charge of Wolves after Nuno Espirito Santo and Bruno Lage, as he now looks to chart his own course.

"The Portuguese managers that came before, when they do a good job, it opens doors," he said.

"I think you have a good image from Portuguese coaches, we are loved around the world.

"Now, it's Vitor Pereira that comes here and has the chance, not with words, to prove on the pitch that I deserve to be here."