MX23RW : Saturday, December 28 22:07:19| >> :600:376015:376015:
Dec 27, 2019 at 7.45pm UK at ​Molineux
WolvesWolverhampton Wanderers
3-2
Man CityManchester City
Traore (55'), Jimenez (82'), Doherty (90')
FT(HT: 0-1)
Sterling (25', 50')
Ederson (12')

Nuno gives Wolves squad Christmas Day off to boost spirits before Man City clash

Nuno gives Wolves squad Christmas Day off to boost spirits before Man City clash
© Reuters
Nuno is hoping to keep morale high amongst his squad.

Wolves boss Nuno Espirito Santo believes allowing his players to spend Christmas Day with their families is the best preparation for Friday's game against Manchester City.

Nuno's players will be able to spend Wednesday at home, having trained on Tuesday, and will then train again on Boxing Day ahead of the visit of Pep Guardiola's team.

Days off have been a rarity for Wolves, with the Europa League making for a demanding schedule. Last week was the first time this season that Nuno's men had not had a midweek game.

"The programme is ready. We will train (on Christmas Eve), and the 25th is off," said Nuno at his pre-match press conference on Monday.

"It's Christmas Day, so everybody will have the chance to be with their families. Then, we return on the 26th and we prepare for the 27th. We then recover on the 28th – let's see how – and we play again on the 29th, so the programme is ready.

"If the situation was that we were playing on the 26th, the 25th would be impossible to have off. But, in this way, it's good. It's very important to be with our families."

Nuno feels such gestures help to keep squad morale high and will give Wolves a greater chance of getting positive results.

"The players will enjoy it, for sure. If you have good relationships and friendships, when you work together, you're stronger.

"You have a real friend beside you that wants the same as you do. We always try to value these moments. We've had trips, and we have time for the players to enjoy. It's important."

City have not hit the heights of last season and the back-to-back Premier League champions are well off the pace in the defence of their title behind current leaders Liverpool.

However, Nuno said: "It's a fantastic team, with fantastic players and a fantastic manager. There's nothing more to say.

"It's amazing the way they play football, it's amazing in the quality they have in their manager and their players, so it's going to be a very tough challenge for us. Every game in the Premier League is a cup final."

Nuno reported no new injury problems heading into the Christmas period. Midfielder Morgan Gibbs-White (back) continues his recovery, along with centre-back Willy Boly (fractured leg) and Bruno Jordao (ankle).

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Tables
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool18171046143252
2Leicester CityLeicester20133443192442
3Manchester CityMan City19122552232938
4Chelsea1910273327632
5Manchester UnitedMan Utd208753223931
6Tottenham HotspurSpurs208663629730
7Wolverhampton WanderersWolves197932924530
8Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd197842317629
9Crystal Palace207671822-427
10Everton207492330-725
11Newcastle UnitedNewcastle207492030-1025
12Arsenal195952528-324
13Burnley2073102332-924
14Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton206592428-423
15Southampton2064102438-1422
16Bournemouth2055102028-820
17West Ham UnitedWest Ham1954102132-1119
18Aston Villa2053122536-1118
19Watford2037101533-1816
20Norwich CityNorwich2034132140-1913

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