Vitor Pereira reveals Wolves striker blow ahead of Aston Villa clash
Vitor Pereira insists Wolves' style will remain unchanged despite losing towering forward Jorgen Strand Larsen to injury. The 6ft 4ins Norwegian had to leave the pitch in the game against Arsenal and faces a period out of the team, starting with the clash against Aston Villa at Molineux this Saturday.
In his pre-match media briefing, Pereira spoke about Strand Larsen's muscle injury, saying, "Larsen has a muscle injury and he will be out (for the) next game. But I cannot change my system."
"If we build a system, build a style of play or a game model around one player that will be a disaster for us. We must improve our qualities, our dynamic in our game model, the way that we start to work since the first day.
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"We can play with another striker, different qualities, different connections with the other players, different movements – but still doing the same."
The team also faces absences from Joao Gomes, who is suspended for one match following his sending-off against Arsenal, and Boubacar Traore who is sidelined with the flu.
Amidst rumours of Matheus Cunha potentially leaving before Monday's transfer deadline, Pereira voiced his contentment with the player's efforts during training sessions. "He is doing good work and trying to come back to his potential," Pereira commented. I am happy with the work and hope he can help us in the next game."
"Our (transfer) priority is still the same a midfielder and a centre-back. The club is working on it, I hope, until the end of the window and we can bring someone. If I stay like this I will do my best for sure, but the club knows that we need to increase the level."
Despite a promising start under Pereira with seven points from three matches following his appointment on December 19, Wolves have slipped back into the relegation zone after consecutive losses to Nottingham Forest, Newcastle, Chelsea, and Arsenal, leaving them just one point behind 17th-placed Leicester.
"Every game we have tried to play our game if you take off Chelsea, because we didn’t play our best level there and that was strange. Every other game we have competed. Against Newcastle 3-0 it was difficult, but we had chances to score."
