Chris Sutton has expressed his concern about Wolves for the season ahead, after Julen Lopetegui left the club last week – and admitted he just doesn’t get him leaving so close to the new season.
Wanderers begin their Premier League campaign tonight against Manchester United, and it’s a very difficult first game for Gary O’Neil.
O’Neil was announced as Lopetegui’s successor last Wednesday, and took his first training session the day after.
He’s had just a few days to work with his new players, so a point or more tonight would be absolutely amazing all things considered.
United are the heavy favourites.
And BBC Sport pundit Sutton simply cannot look past them for three points tonight.
Chris Sutton fears for Wolves as he predicts Man United to win at Old Trafford
Sutton has given his thoughts about this game to the BBC Sport website.
The pundit really cannot believe what has gone on at Molineux recently, and genuinely fears for the club this season.
Criticising both the club and Lopetegui, he said: “What has happened at Wolves for Julen Lopetegui to leave when he did? I don’t get it.
“He was unhappy – I understand that – but it was rumbling on for weeks so how did we get to this point, with him going only three days before the Premier League season begins?
“If club and manager are not on the same page, why can’t they come to an agreement earlier to part ways, and give his replacement a chance? What a mess, basically.
“Gary O’Neil did an unbelievable salvage job at Bournemouth last season, and they played some good football at the end of the campaign , but this is another tough task for him.
“Wolves still have some good players. But they won’t be good enough to get anything at Old Trafford, and their issue is still going to be scoring goals.”
Molineux legend Steve Bull also questioned the timing of Lopetegui’s departure.
Sutton believes United will be 2-0 victors tonight at Old Trafford.
A shambolic situation
It is definitely a terrible look for Lopetegui to leave just six days before Wolves’ first game of the new season.
Lopetegui did actually want to leave a few weeks ago, after the Celtic game.
But he said he would stay on to manage while Matt Hobbs, the sporting director, interviewed candidates to replace him.
Lopetegui had not been happy for some time at the club due to the financial situation.
Sutton does have a point. It seems ridiculous that this happened so close to the new season.
But one wonders if Lopetegui genuinely did intend to stay. After all, it has been reported that missing out on Alex Scott was the final straw.
But there is also the argument that Lopetegui did not want to walk, as that would have meant no pay-off.
Some have suggested he stayed in place to force the Wolves hierarchy into holding talks with him about paying off some of his contract.
