Julen Lopetegui has said today that Raul Jimenez and Rayan Ait-Nouri are both fighting to regain their places in the Wolves squad, after being left out last week.
The pair were overlooked against Chelsea, with Lopetegui confirming after the game that it was a tactical decision.
For Ait-Nouri, it was the second game running that he missed out on the squad.
But it was uncharted territory for Jimenez, who has previously only missed out for Wolves this season through injury.
Jimenez’s exclusion was quite the surprise.
In recent weeks, he has put in some good performances for Wanderers.
Against Tottenham Hotspur he was absolutely fantastic.
But on Saturday against Chelsea he was nowhere to be seen, with Lopetegui throwing Matheus Cunha and Diego Costa into his attack.
And Wolves turned in one of their best performances of the season without Jimenez, Ait-Nouri and also the suspended Ruben Neves.
Speaking today to reporters, Lopetegui spoke about the duo.
He said (via Wolves official): “Raul is one player more. He’s trying to recover his space. This is the aim for any player, the commitment to fight in their daily work here, trying to find a space and he’s trying for sure.
“Rayan the same, he’s one player, he has played here and he’s fighting inside, and other teammates are trying to do the same. Our job is to choose and their work is to fight to win the space in the team. Of course, it’s good always for the team.”
Jimenez and Ait-Nouri must respond after missing out on Wolves squad, as Daniel Podence did
It was really intriguing that Jimenez and Ait-Nouri both missed out last weekend.
Clearly, Lopetegui is not fully happy with either of them to be leaving them out.
A few weeks ago against Spurs, Lopetegui surprised fans by leaving out Daniel Podence.
The winger has since come back into the team and against Nottingham Forest he came in clutch with a late equaliser.
Podence bounced back from the setback, and should be the example for both Jimenez and Ait-Nouri.
It will be tough for both players to regain their starting berths. But Lopetegui will hands them chances if he feels they are deserving.