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Lawrenson predicts that Europa League involvement will impact Wolves’ season
Wolverhampton Wanderers overcame Torino by a 2-1 scoreline at Molineux on Thursday in the second leg of their Europa League qualification round tie. The result secured a 5-3 aggregate victory for Wolves over the Italian outfit. Nuno Espirito Santo’s side will now progress into the group stages of the continental competition.
This achievement marks Wolves’ first inclusion in a European competition since 1980. They will be joined in the competition by fellow Premier League clubs Arsenal and Manchester United.
Whilst the Gunners and the Old Trafford club boast large squads and plenty of European experience, this is unfamiliar territory for Wolves. Having to compete in this competition could damage their domestic form, as has previously happened to the likes of Burnley and Leicester City.
BBC pundit Mark Lawrenson certainly expects this to be the case. In his , he said, “Wolves are now dealing with the Europa League. I know they have more players but it is just a funny thing playing Thursday and Sunday…It is also a balancing act for the manager and I think Wolves will be up and down this season”.
TBR’s view
Wolves may not achieve a seventh-placed finish in the Premier League this season, as they did last time out, due to their Europa League commitments. However, there is so much quality in Nuno’s squad that they should still achieve a comfortable mid-table finish. Therefore, they should commit themselves to giving the Europa League everything they have.
If they’re at their best, and the draw favours them, then Wolves stand a great chance of going far in the competition. This will help to establish them as a seriously ambitious club.
Lawrenson is likely correct. Wolves probably are facing a somewhat up and down season, but they have a secure and smart enough management unit to cope with that.