Wolves manager Bruno Lage has branded the decision for Wolves to play in the EFL Cup against Nottingham Forest tonight ‘really strange’.
The team take to the field at the City Ground tonight in the competition’s second round.
The clash comes just 48 hours after Wolves faced Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League.
Wolves had to play Spurs on the Sunday as the north Londoners were in Europa Conference League action on Thursday night.
Wolves did appeal against the decision to play Forest on Tuesday and requested to have the game moved to Wednesday.
But the request was denied due to the T20 cricket being played at nearby Trent Bridge.
Lage is not happy about the situation.
He said (via Shropshire Star): “I don’t want to go that way. I just said it was a strange decision.
“Why we play today, on Sunday? Because Tottenham play on Thursday and they have the three days to recover and prepare for the game. It’s not our fault we play Sunday.
“Nottingham Forest don’t have their stadium available to play, it’s not our fault.
“In the middle of this question: Tottenham have the three days, Nottingham Forest continue to play at home and we are in the middle and no attention on us.”
Wholesale changes pending
It is definitely not an ideal situation and Lage is right to be frustrated.
It is likely he will be making a string of changes to his starting XI tonight.
He probably would have made quite a few even if the squad did have that extra day.
But with such a quick turnaround, it would be a surprise to see any of the individuals that have started in the Premier League so far.
On social media, fans were pleased to hear Lage not being afraid to call the decision out and expressing his feelings:
Speaks his mind, love him already😭
— Leo Cook (@LeoCook_14) August 23, 2021
Say it as it is 👏
— Ianph (@Ianph61) August 23, 2021
Love this man.
— Fabío Santos (@GoldenPalaceWW) August 23, 2021
He’s right look at past 2 Christmas fixtures too playing 2 big six teams in under 48 hours of each other.
— LegendKiller2k ⚪ (@legendkiller2k8) August 23, 2021
At last a manager that says it how it is. Should be interesting hearing his reaction to impending dodgy VAR decisions and anti Wolves (Atwell) refs
— ⚽David Arthurs⚽ (@daveiart3383) August 24, 2021
It’s been like that for a while wit the media and the FA. We’re not one of their big six so we get no thoughts. Good on Bruno for saying what we all know. 🐺🐺 https://t.co/gyCwFv4pjt
— Michael Barnes (@MichaelJBarnes) August 24, 2021
We’ll said mr Lage👏 https://t.co/tL0iGiLm5L
— Matt (@MattTilley510) August 23, 2021