Wolves manager Vitor Pereira is hoping to guide the Old Gold to Premier League survival after a disastrous start to 2024/25.
It could be argued that the Wolves board took too long to sack Gary O’Neil, who was dismissed on week 16 of the season.
At the time of the Englishman’s sacking, the Old Gold had won just twice in the Premier League, sitting 19th in the table having conceded 40 goals.
Pereira arrived and made Wolves history by remaining undefeated from his opening three games in charge and now, the Portuguese is targeting bigger things than merely surviving the drop.
Vitor Pereira praised by Jurgen Klopp’s former assistant at Liverpool
Wolves had several candidates to replace O’Neil however, Pereira wasn’t considered one of the favourites at the time.
Eventually, the Old Gold recruited the coach from Al-Shabab and things have started encouragingly for the Midlands club, who are undoubtedly playing their best football this season.
Pereira has earned high praise for his impact at Wolves, with one former Premier League coach the latest to commend the 56-year-old.
Vitor Matos was Jurgen Klopp’s number three at Liverpool, assisting the German with his coaching duties on Merseyside where he gained experience in the English game.
The coach recently sat down with A Bola to share his verdict on the Portuguese coaches currently in the Premier League, including Pereira.
“Vitor Pereira has been at Wolverhampton for a shorter period of time, but he has had an immediate impact on the team’s performance and the way they play,” Matos said.
The former Liverpool man then outlined two things that the Wolves manager has improved ‘above all’ at Molineux.
“Above all, it seems to me that he has created a new beginning, a new collective desire.”
Many players have raised the same positive about the boss, as Nelson Semedo praised Pereira’s approach to life at Wolves, bringing a new lease of life to the squad.
Wolves backed to secure Premier League safety
Without Pereira at the helm, it’s scary to imagine where Wolves could be right now.
There’s still a long way for the manager’s squad to go in terms of avoiding relegation but, the Old Gold have been backed to achieve their goal of survival.
| Position | Team | Played MP | Won W | Drawn D | Lost L | For GF | Against GA | Diff GD | Points Pts |
| 13 |  Crystal PalaceCrystal Palace | 25 | 7 | 9 | 9 | 29 | 32 | -3 | 30 |
| 14 |  EvertonEverton | 25 | 7 | 9 | 9 | 27 | 31 | -4 | 30 |
| 15 |  Man UtdManchester United | 25 | 8 | 5 | 12 | 28 | 35 | -7 | 29 |
| 16 |  West HamWest Ham | 25 | 7 | 6 | 12 | 29 | 47 | -18 | 27 |
| 17 |  WolvesWolves | 25 | 5 | 4 | 16 | 35 | 54 | -19 | 19 |
| 18 |  IpswichIpswich | 25 | 3 | 8 | 14 | 23 | 50 | -27 | 17 |
| 19 |  LeicesterLeicester | 25 | 4 | 5 | 16 | 25 | 55 | -30 | 17 |
| 20 |  SouthamptonSouthampton | 25 | 2 | 3 | 20 | 19 | 57 | -38 | 9 |
Opta predicts Wolves have a 17.5% of being relegated, expecting Pereira’s side to finish 17th, which is ironically where the data predicted O’Neil’s squad would finish in September.
A lot has changed since then and thankfully, Wolves appear to be on the right path, in what is set to be a crucial end to the campaign and an even more important summer in the transfer window.