Wolves midfielder Mario Lemina has previewed the Old Gold’s FA Cup quarter-final clash with Coventry City, with some comments having the potential to leave Julen Lopetegui feeling red-faced.
Wolves are preparing for their FA Cup quarter-final duel with Coventry City on Saturday, giving Gary O’Neil the opportunity to take his side to Wembley.
Not many would have predicted that after 28 games played in the Premier League season, the Old Gold would be sat two points off the European places and one game away from an FA Cup semi-final, but that is the reality for O’Neil’s spirited side.
Seeing off Brentford, West Bromwich Albion and Brighton to get to the quarter-finals has paved the way for the current squad to make their Wembley dreams come true however, Coventry City stand in their way.
Mario Lemina previews Wolves FA Cup clash v Coventry City
Speaking ahead of Saturday’s crucial fixture at Molineux on the Wolves Express podcast, midfielder Mario Lemina was full of praise for the fans and called on the group to “make history” for their supporters.
“It’s going to be really really good for the fans to be honest, they deserve it, from the beginning of the season they have supported us and they’re doing their job and we have to do our job as well to make history.”
The Gabon international was the decisive factor in firing the Old Gold to the quarter-finals thanks to his early match-winner against Brighton.
Not only did the 30-year-old dedicate Saturday’s fixture to the fans at Molineux, but gave a host of credit to his teammates and shared their desire to continue their cup run.
“We believe that we can achieve something this year, we have the team to achieve it, we’ve got the spirit to achieve it and we’re in a really good place to believe and dream about the FA Cup.”
“You can see the strength and the mentality of the team and we are in a really good place right now.”
Mario Lemina’s comments prove how wrong Julen Lopetegui was
One person that will be left red-faced by Lemina’s comments on the squad’s capabilities this season is former manager, Julen Lopetegui.
The Spaniard left his post just days prior to the start of the 2023/24 campaign, sharing his belief that the squad he was carrying into the season was not at the level to compete in the Premier League.
While it was a difficult summer for Lopetegui, who saw key players exit with no possibility of replacing them due to financial restrictions, O’Neil and the current squad have proved just how wrong the former Real Madrid boss was.
Lemina’s comments on the “strength and mentality” of the team contradict the thoughts of the former boss, who backed away from the job in fear of what the 2023/24 season could hold for the club.
As O’Neil’s team continue to prove Lopetegui wrong, Wolves will relish the fact that the Englishman was hired, with his guidance being the driving force behind the squad’s success so far this term.