Gary O’Neil insists he is not thinking about his future as Wolves boss after pressure on his position grew following their 4-0 defeat to Everton.
Sections of Wolves supporters were heard turning on the under-fire boss during Wednesday’s heavy defeat, which was the second straight game they have shipped four after Saturday’s 4-1 home defeat to Bournemouth.
The latest reports indicate O’Neil is expected to remain in charge for Monday’s game against West Ham and, speaking at the press conference for that game, the Wolves boss insists it is business as usual as far as he is concerned.
He said: “I don’t think about me personally. I think for the team and where we are in the league, the last two result have let us down from the momentum we created.
“There always comes the next challenge which comes very, very quickly at West Ham on Monday. There is a lot in the last two games that the group need to take on and learn from very quickly if we want to have a chance of being more competitive and more consistent.
“Of course losing two games back-to-back and conceding four goals in both of them is not where we wanted to be having recovered from a tough start.”
“I can only keep going until things change. As far as I am aware, I took training this morning, players that started have recovered, players that didn’t play have trained.
“You won’t find anyone more hardworking and professional than me. Last night we watched the game back, this morning we’ve come back in and we’ve watched it back again.
“We have started to get ready for West Ham and I know I can get the group in a good place to go there and give their best again.”
“Sacked in the morning”…
Wolves fans have had enough, they want Gary O’Neil out! pic.twitter.com/pV9f7ZJArB
— Football Away Days (@FBAwayDays) December 4, 2024
O’Neil was asked about the criticism heard from the away end at Goodison, which included chants of “Sacked in the morning”, with the 41-year-old saying he understands fans’ frustrations.
“I am not hurting from on a personal level, I am more disappointed for the fan base because I understand how much it means to them every weekend”, he added.
“A long time ago I was a football fan. I know how important those days are to you and how your club gets on and how it performs. It has an impact on how you feel. I know how much they give. Time, travel, money. I have a good understanding of how they feel.
“As I always say the criticism is part and parcel.”
‘We assume Lopetegui will be in charge’
Defeat for either side at the London Stadium on Monday could well prove detrimental their manager, with Hammers boss Julen Lopetegui also feeling the heat following Tuesday’s 3-1 loss at Leicester.
Though six points better of than Wolves who are 19th, Lopetegui is seemingly close to the sack after a difficult season since succeeding David Moyes having won only four of their 14 league games this term.
“I haven’t even considered who will be in charge [of West Ham], O’Neil said. “We obviously assume that Julen will be in charge.”
“They have an incredible group of players. I think when you look at the amount of attacking talent that they have, what they have been able to add, it’s an unbelievably talented group that we have go and face on Monday.
“They have been in poor form, of course they have, but they go away to Leicester and have 30 shots. They have something there to work with.”
