Report claims Wolves have done no pure running work under Lage

A report by the Athletic has offered an insight into Bruno Lage’s first pre-season at Wolves.

They report that the emphasis in training has changed under the new manager.

Nuno Espirito Santo apparently prioritised organisation and shape work. That’s how Wolves became so defensively disciplined.

But their attack went stale and Lage has apparently put a focus on attacking drills; working on shooting, movement and pressing.

Apparently there’s also been absolutely no pure running work, only drills with the ball at high intensity.

Under Nuno, fitness specialist Antonio Dias would always have had the players running round a track if nothing else.

Clearly, Lage is trying to get his players’ fitness up while working with the ball rather than keeping the two separate.

There have been double sessions every day that Wolves haven’t had a game; at 9am and then at 7pm.

Lage freshening things up

It must be good for the players to have a break from the pre-season routine they’d got into under Nuno.

He put defensive organisation above everything else and that’s likely one reason the side lacked creativity last season.

Lage is clearly trying to change the balance; remaining resolute at the back – there have been some defensive drills, according to the report – while being more unpredictable and creative going forward.

Time will tell if the work has paid off when the serious stuff starts. But Lage was brought in to introduce a more attacking style and his training methods so far seem to reflect that.

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