Vitor Pereira got a lot of things right during his time at Wolves, but he dropped the ball with Mateus Mane.
Mane is the jewel in the Wolves academy crown. At just 18, he is already the standout performer for the Under-21s, and he’s only going to improve.
Last season, Mane became Wolves’ youngest ever Premier League player, and there was plenty of hype surrounding him coming into this campaign.
Despite that fact, Pereira didn’t give him a single minute this season. He was included in the squad on one occasion against Chelsea, but was left on the bench.
And what Wolves’ caretaker manager has come out and said furthers the narrative that Pereira made a mistake.
James Collins says Mateus Mane can contribute for Wolves
Head coach of the U-21 side, James Collins, is overseeing the senior team as Wolves continue the search for a new manager.
In the buildup to the game, Collins said three academy players can contribute against Chelsea — Tawanda Chirewa, Enso Gonzalez and Mane.
Wolves fans wanted to see the youngster get a chance under Pereira, and he certainly would have given Wolves something different.
The wide attacking areas have been a problem this season, not creating enough chances for the likes of Jorgen Strand Larsen.
Vitor Pereira should have trusted Mateus Mane
He may be inexperienced, but Mane is a top class talent.
We have seen plenty of better teams entrust their young stars far more than Pereira did, and while there’s no guarantee Mane elevates the level of the side, to not even give it a try is something that the Portuguese might regret once he gains some distance from Molineux.
It’s clear Wolves don’t have the strongest squad, so looking for small margins for improvement can yield significant results.
The next manager who comes in needs to be more open to trusting the youth. Not only Mane, but Chirewa and Gonzalez too.
Edwards, who is the betting favourite for the Wolves job, has worked at Compton in the youth setup and that suggests he might be more open to giving them a chance. In the meantime, we’re sure to see at least one of the trio get some minutes under a man, in Collins, who knows the value of developing young talent.
That’s just one new thing we might see against Chelsea.
- READ MORE: Three predictions for Wolves vs Chelsea including a surprise reveal and a Premier League first