Wolverhampton Wanderers have been told by new manager Cesar Peixoto to target the Championship title this season, and teenager Mateus Mane has already bought into the vision. The 19-year-old midfielder revealed Peixoto’s opening statement to the squad on his first day in charge at Molineux.
What did Peixoto tell Wolves on day one?
Peixoto walked into the Wolves dressing room on his first day and left no room for doubt. “We will be champions this season,” the Portuguese boss told his players, according to Mane. The teenager added that Peixoto’s message has stuck with the squad ever since. “Every day when you come in, just get that into your mind that we’ll be champions and that’s what we’re fighting for,” Mane told the Wolves Unpacked podcast.
The statement came after a chaotic summer at Molineux. Rob Edwards was sacked in June, just weeks before Peixoto’s arrival. The new boss inherits a side that finished bottom of the Premier League in May, but he has already reshaped the squad with free transfers like Kieran Trippier and Raul Jimenez.
Why this matters for Wolverhampton Wanderers
Wolves are the bookmakers’ favourites to bounce straight back up. Peixoto has moved quickly to steady the ship, tying Andre to a new deal and bringing in experienced heads to replace the likes of Joao Gomes. The Black Country club have also avoided the upheaval that has blighted rivals West Ham and Burnley this summer.
West Ham have barely started their transfer business, while Burnley only appointed a new head coach in late June. Wolves, by contrast, have assembled a squad with Championship-winning pedigree. Andre, Adam Armstrong and Hugo Bueno are among the names Peixoto can rely on, and the lack of disruption could prove decisive.
Can Peixoto deliver on his promise?
Peixoto’s opening message is bold, but Wolves’ squad looks built for the task. The club’s recruitment has already stolen a march on their rivals, landing two Premier League-quality players without spending a penny. Trippier’s leadership and Jimenez’s finishing could be the difference in a division packed with promotion hopefuls.
The Championship is stacked this season. West Ham and Burnley are among the challengers, while sides that narrowly missed out last campaign have strengthened. Wolves, though, enter the campaign with a settled XI and a clear identity under Peixoto. If the players buy into his vision, the Old Gold could be celebrating at the top of the table by May.
Where do you think Wolves will finish? Share your predictions below.
