Julen Lopetegui claimed he could write a book on refereeing the howls that cost Wolves but he has decided to start a new chapter… The Spaniard knows his players must focus on what they can control before facing Nottingham Forest.
- Wolves boss Julen Lopetegui plans to put a slew of refereeing errors behind him
- Despite previous apologies, the team is still on the wrong side of VAR calls
- Wolves face a season-defining test at Nottingham Forest on Saturday afternoon
Julen Lopetegui said he could write a book about the referees who have struggled with his team this season, but the Wolves coach decided it was time to start a new chapter.
As they prepare for a potentially season-defining clash at Nottingham Forest on Saturday, Lopetegui has called a meeting with his players at their training ground in Compton, on the outskirts of Wolverhampton.
Wolves cannot be blamed for feeling the world is against them. They were on the wrong end of game-changing VAR appeals in defeats at the hands of Newcastle and Leeds ahead of the international break, and were already frustrated with referees for their decisions in cup matches against Liverpool and Nottingham Forest.
Chief Referee Howard Webb spent 90 minutes with Lopetegui in Compton in January and apologized more than once to the Spaniard for the blunders in Wolverhampton’s matches.
After Leeds won 4–2 at Molineux on 18 March, Michael Salisbury was approached by manager Edo Rubio and club secretary Matt Wilde after witnessing the dismissals of Johnny Otto and Matheus Nunes, although Nunes’ red card was overturned on appeal.
Julen Lopetegui says he will put his anger at refereeing errors against Wolves behind him
Howard Webb Lopetegui apologized for refereeing errors in January, but more followed
However, Lopetegui decided that the wolves should wipe the slate clean. He believes his team will stand a better chance of staying in the top flight if they forget the perceived grievances of the past and simply focus on what lies ahead.
There is a sense in the game that Wolves’ style of play – Lopetegui and captain Ruben Neves can be particularly clear when they feel a decision is wrong – can count on them. It will be interesting to see if there is any change in their behavior at the City Ground, the scene of one of Wolves’ most volatile matches this season.
The club were fined £45,000 for his part in the altercation that followed Forest’s penalty shoot-out victory in the Carabao Cup quarter-final, when former Wolves player Morgan Gibbs-White celebrated provocatively in front of the crowd, angering his former teammates. .
Lopetegui was labeled “unprofessional” for getting close to Gibbs-White while forward Matheus Cunha was also reprimanded for his role in the brawl. Now Wolves are back for a far more important game – they are three points clear of the relegation zone, with Forest one point below – and they can’t afford any distraction.
“Maybe we can all definitely do better,” Lopetegui admitted. Each of us chooses the way we live and do our job, of course.
We can all get better, sure, me too. But it’s important to be yourself – always on the pitch and as coaches off it, with respect for the opponent.
Lopetegui’s Wolves will face a crucial match of the season against Nottingham Forest on Sunday
Should I manage or translate my feelings – that’s always my thinking, because it’s best for my team.
“The most important thing is to respect the referee, always respect the opponent. I warn my players not to show passion and passion, but to always try to be calm and balanced.
(Refereeing decisions) It’s not in our control and yes, I’ve spoken to the players. We’ve put our focus on how we’re going to defend, how we’re going to play, how we’re going to press. These are the things we can manage.
It feels like the right approach from Lopetegui. Let’s see if he can keep it after a controversial first call up against Forest.
