Vitor Pereira guided Wolves to safety last season with his pragmatic tactics, but is now turning to more experimental ideas in a bid to revive the club’s season.
The Portuguese manager arrived at Molineux midway through last season and produced the heroics needed to steer Wolves away from the threat of relegation.
His appointment brought stability at a crucial moment, with the manager leaning on defensive discipline to secure survival.
However, this season, Pereira aims to mirror Nuno Espirito Santo’s Wolves success with greater tactical flexibility, by switching between a 3-4-2-1 and a 3-5-2.
In a bid to revive Wolves’ season and avoid a second consecutive relegation battle, the 57-year-old is turning to a tactical approach no other Premier League manager is currently using.
Vitor Pereira plans to persist with inverted-wing backs at Wolves
The decision to invert the wing-backs paid off, with Hugo Bueno and Rodrigo Gomes both impressing against Newcastle United.
It was the first time Pereira experimented with inverting the full-backs, having usually preferred his defenders to operate on their more natural sides.
As reported by the Express & Star, Pereira is looking to gain an edge over his Premier League rivals by continuing to deploy inverted wing-backs.
He said: “We can cause different problems.
“It’s not easy to play as a defender on the left side with a right foot. Some players can do it, but in that position, I prefer a left foot. “
Wolves’ inverted wing-back trial a success against Newcastle
It was believed Wolves might sell Bueno this summer following the arrival of David Moller Wolfe.
However, the Spanish defender’s recent performances have been strong enough to demote Wolfe to a substitute role.
Bueno started at right wing-back and Gomes on the left, forming Pereira’s inverted wing-back duo against Newcastle.
The pair were a constant attacking threat, with Gomes nearly scoring inside the first 20 seconds of the match.
Both players were relentless in their pressure and stood out in defensive duels, showcasing the effectiveness of the tactical switch.