Wolves have had a wholly successful season under Gary O’Neil, with the manager’s tactics bringing the best out of one Nuno Espirito Santo signing.
Despite the current woes surrounding the squad, it’s been a largely successful season for Wolves considering the concerns at the start of the campaign.
Gary O’Neil has revitalised the shortened side at Molineux, taking the Old Gold away from being relegation candidates to fighting for a European finish in the 2023/24 calendar.
Only in the past few weeks has the manager seen the weaknesses of having a small squad exposed, with injuries to key players plaguing the side just before the run-in, making Wolves’ European dream now extremely difficult to achieve.
At the start of the season, the prospect of finishing near the European spots would have been laughed at however, O’Neil’s work and ability to get the best out of his squad has been refreshing, particularly to one player.
Toti Gomes shares his verdict on Wolves manager Gary O’Neil
Signed back in 2020 as a 21-year-old by Nuno Espirito Santo, Toti Gomes was shipped off on loan at the point of his arrival at Molineux and this term, made a full breakthrough at Wolves.
Last season, the versatile Portuguese defender was handed minutes by Julen Lopetegui, securing 10 starts in the Premier League over 2022/23, with his part in O’Neil’s squad being even more important.
So far this campaign, Toti has made an appearance in 29 of Wolves’ 32 league games, telling of the trust the manager has in him, with the 25-year-old now sharing his verdict on the boss, via Express and Star.
“I’ve been giving everything in every match. It’s important for every player to have a manager that trusts you and puts you on the pitch.”
“I’ve been enjoying it and I’m grateful for the opportunity. I’ve been grabbing the opportunity.”
Last season, the vibrant defender was utilised in a range of positions when called into action from the bench, playing as a left-back and centre-back, making sporadic appearances in deep midfield too.
Read how Toti ranks in Wolves 2023/24 player ratings so far here
Toti opened up about having to be patient to impose himself at Wolves, sharing his joy over his role under O’Neil.
“I’ve been doing the same, since always, I’ve been working hard and it’s just about the moment.”
“Before I was playing, there were some other players and I had to respect the timing. Now, I’m playing and it’s good for me. I’m happy.”
Toti Gomes has a bright future ahead of him at Wolves
Playing a back three, O’Neil has seen just how well Toti has been able to utilise his versatility to give Wolves a refreshing edge in defence.
The 25-year-old’s pace, precision and composure see him work extremely well on the left side of the back three, combining well with Rayan Ait-Nouri to allow the manager’s vision to come into play.
It’s been a memorable year for Toti, who has not only imposed himself as an important player to O’Neil by signing a new deal at Molineux but earned his first international cap for Portugal back in November, something he wants to build on.
“A lot has happened and I’ve been improving a lot, I have big goals now for the national team and I want to keep improving because there’s still a lot of work to do.”
The patience and hard work of the £25k-a-week Wolves ace doesn’t go unnoticed, with it abundantly clear that he fits seamlessly into O’Neil’s side and is set to have an exciting future with the Old Gold.