César Pesciotto: We will face every challenge in top form.

The first round of the 2026/27 EFL Cup is about to kick off, with Wolverhampton Wanderers hosting Port Vale at Molineux Stadium. Ahead of the match, manager Cesar Pescotto emphasized that the entire team must approach their first official game of the new season with the utmost professionalism to lay a solid foundation for the journey ahead.  

After being relegated from the Premier League last season, this match will be Wolves' first game of the new season, followed by their Championship opener next week.  

Despite last season's disappointment, Cesar Pescotto emphasized that the most important thing now is to look forward, not dwell on the past. He hopes that Wolves can use Molineux as a new starting point, uniting the players, coaching staff, personnel, and fans to jointly usher in a new chapter for the team and create a better future together.  

Speaking about the first League Cup match of the new season, Cesar Pesciotto said: "I think it will be a challenging game. Port Vale will definitely bring extra fighting spirit to the match against us and treat it as a game against a strong team. Therefore, we must remain calm, manage the pressure during the game, and also have the right mindset to face such an opponent."  

“I remind the players every day that they must always maintain their desire to win. Only by giving their all in training, performing as expected in matches, and constantly creating and seizing scoring opportunities can the team achieve success. We will be fully prepared and in the best condition for every match; that is our responsibility.”  

Speaking about the signings of Raúl Jiménez and Kieran Trippier, Cesar Peschoto said, "They are undoubtedly outstanding and experienced players. But for me, the performance of the whole team is more important. I hope that every player can integrate into the overall system, whether in defense or offense, and that everyone can play as a team."  

“You’ll see in the game that when a player makes a mistake, the other teammates will immediately cover for him, track back, and do everything they can to regain possession. Every player understands their role both with and without the ball. There’s no doubt that Kieran Trippier and Raul Jimenez are both excellent players, but I always believe that the strength of the team is always greater than that of the individual.”  

When discussing the captaincy for the new season, César Pesciotto said, "The team will not have just one permanent captain. I have already identified three captains, and there may be one or two more in the future. I hope to build a team of four to five leaders, and then decide who wears the captain's armband based on different matches and actual situations."  

"In the match against Racing Santander, I put Totti Gomez on captain's armband in the first half and Kieran Trippier in the second half. In addition, Andre and Raul Jimenez are also candidates for captain of the team. You will gradually see our specific arrangements."  

"I value the team as a whole and its spirit more than my personal identity. The locker room atmosphere is very positive right now, and the players have put in a lot of effort throughout the preseason. I'm satisfied with their performance. However, we still have many areas to improve. Only by continuously improving can we have a successful new season."  

Image source: Internet/Wolves official website