O'Neil on Wolves' huge 6 - 2 loss to Chelsea
25/08/25
Molineux Stadium, Wolverhampton, U.K.
Molineux Stadium, Wolverhampton, U.K.
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00:00Yeah, no, just disappointed. And, um, yeah, way to thank them, obviously, for their support
00:20in a real tough, tough afternoon for us. So, um, yeah, it was just a crazy game. Um, gave
00:31Chelsea so, so many, um, good situations from, from like, yeah, crazy episodes that were
00:39so avoidable. Um, and we were, we were badly punished. So to go from where we were first
00:46half, um, although we still gave them a goal in the first half, to go from where we were
00:51in the first half to what happened, to go from 2-2 to 5-2 in that, in that spell was
00:57obviously unrecoverable for us. And, um, yeah, there's a lot there that we have to, all of
01:03us have to look at and make sure that we understand how and why it happened and that it's unacceptable
01:10to go the way it did.
01:11Some people will look at it and suggest that you sell your best defender, you don't replace
01:17him, and you see basic errors like that. What would your response be to, I suppose, that thesis?
01:23Yeah, I understand that opinion. Um, obviously, I, the goals, the, to go, we, well, obviously
01:33we go 1-0 down and then we're, I think, the better, the better side up until halftime.
01:38We equalize to go 1-1 and then we give them a goal from a goal kick, which is mad, like
01:45mad. We had ages to get back in shape from the goal kick. So we go 2-1 down and we have
01:48to fight our way back and we get back to 2-2 and you think, okay, decent performance that,
01:53with some craziness and some mistakes in there. Um, and then you come out for halftime and
01:58you let them pass a free kick straight into their number nine and get to a 2v1 on the,
02:02on our left side, um, when we had ages to get in shape. And then for the fourth and
02:08fifth goal, we have no left back in place. So the, that part of the pitch is just completely
02:14wide open. Um, so yeah, they were mad to go from where we were to that, um, and not, not
02:24things that I've ever seen before from them, um, on the training pitch or, so yeah, tough,
02:31tough for the, I mean, they know how I feel about it, the players. Uh, and when I speak
02:38about the players, I always include myself in it. So, um, we have to take real responsibility
02:44for a 6-2 home defeat against the good side, albeit, you know, they've got, we made some
02:50errors and they were very, very good at punishing us clinically. They didn't miss too many opportunities.
02:55It felt like every time they had an opportunity, it ended up in, in the back of the net. Um,
03:00but loads there that we, we can tidy up and that we will tidy up, um, but a real tough
03:07afternoon and a real one that you have to, you have to take on the chin and make sure
03:12that we learn from.
03:21Yeah, a tough one for them, I guess, cause they were probably sat there enjoying their
03:25team, having a right good go against a team that have spent billions, um, and going toe
03:30to toe and then feeling like there was a huge gulf between the two sides for the, for the
03:36rest of it. So, um, yeah, tough afternoon for the fans, which, uh, yeah, I apologise
03:43for my part in because I don't want them to have to, to suffer games like that. I think,
03:49you know, we played Arsenal and Chelsea, um, we've locked out, lost our captain and one
03:54of our best players. So if anyone thought this first two weeks was, was going to be
03:58easy, I think, um, I knew it wouldn't be easy. Uh, and today shows you just how difficult
04:03it can be. Then if you do fall below the level that we try and set. Um, so lots of things,
04:10you know, I focus purely on myself and my own part in it initially, um, and making sure
04:16that there's a good understanding from the players around how I feel and how it got to
04:20where it got to. Um, and then we have up until Wednesday to, to put it right and for the
04:25cup game and then up until Saturday next weekend to put it right in the Premier League.
04:35There will be positives. Um, I'm pretty sure the Wolves fans will be keen for me not to
04:40talk about them at this moment. So we'll leave the positives to, to me and my work in the
04:44office and, um, cause we've just been beat 6-2 at home in the Premier League. So, um,
04:50I'd rather focus really on the harsh truth and the honesty around that, that no way is
04:56that, is that good enough? And no way is that going to be good enough? And we need to make
04:59sure we improve.
05:00There's a lot to look at this afternoon. Weirdly, most of the chances didn't come from
05:16that. You know, we, um, the goal kick they score from, we're nowhere near in shape. The
05:23free kick they score from, we're nowhere near in shape. Um, at no, in, at no point in preseason
05:29with all the things that we've worked on, have we ever worked on not having a left back
05:33in place. So there's, there's four of the goals this afternoon against Chelsea that
05:39are nothing to do with the slight tweak in the system. But of course, you know, I have
05:47a good, a good understanding of the group and what, and what it needs. Um, and today
05:52was obviously miles below the level. So all things will, will be considered in trying
05:56to get us into the best place possible to be competitive in the Premier League.
05:59A lot of that is dependent on, um, players that we have players that were able to get.
06:04Um, yeah. So there's a, there's an important week coming up as we know for firstly myself
06:12and the players to respond. Uh, and secondly for the football club, because everyone knows
06:17the financial restrictions that we have and that have been in place since I arrived. Um,
06:24but you know, we did, we did, we have raised good funds in this, in this window. So hopefully
06:28the group will need some help. It's a, the Premier League's tough. Um, the, once the
06:35window shuts in a week's time or just under whatever it is, um, it doesn't open again
06:40for a good few months. So when that shuts in six days time, we are what we are and we
06:45need to be really comfortable with where we are. Um, so there's a lot of work from myself
06:50to do. Firstly, I'm focusing on my own job and I need to get better than that out of
06:54the group that I already have. Um, and then just an understanding that the Premier League's
06:59tough and you sell good players. It, it makes you weaker.
07:03Have they changed at all since the end of last season?
07:17I think we'll see whether it's a break even window by the time it shuts next Friday, by
07:24the time it shuts next Friday, we'll see exactly where we are and what we've been able
07:27to do. So, um, yeah, similar answer to what I gave earlier, really. I can sit here and
07:33speak about transfers, but off the back, if I'm really, really honest with you off the
07:38back of a 6-2 home defeat, I feel uncomfortable talking about what anyone else should be doing
07:42and what maybe we should be doing in the transfer window. And like that, that, that out there
07:47is my responsibility and I'll really focus on that and what's just gone on. Um, and the
07:52transfer window and what I think of it as I've been honest with you guys from the start
07:56and my view on it hasn't changed. Um, we've raised some good funds and hopefully we're
08:00able to use them, um, well in the next, next six days.
08:04Last season we suffered three maybe, um, goals where I thought we lost focus due to emotion
08:19from throw-ins and things. Um, so I was conscious of that and I did speak to the players about
08:25it at half time. Um, but yeah, just small errors that were, that were made to look huge
08:33by a side that were, that punished us really clinically today. So, um, yeah, there is,
08:39there is a little bit of that, of being able to remain focused when the game is full tilt
08:44and, um, something that we do definitely need to improve upon.
08:48What's frustrating when the players are completely out of position and not doing what you're...
08:53Yeah, no, there's no black, like that's, that's my fault. So, um, I want to be really clear
08:57that I'm not sat here blaming players. I wouldn't, I never, ever, ever do that.
09:01It's always our responsibility. So whatever goes out wrong out there, whether it's part
09:06of my plan or part of a misunderstanding or players going off and doing what they think
09:11is best, it all comes down to me. So, um, yeah, comfortable with that. Uh, a tough day,
09:18one that we will get to work on straight away and, and, and see if we can put it right.
09:22Three of the goals, the Chelsea goals in the second half come off from overloads to your
09:26left-guard. I'm just wondering whether you can explain the absence of a left-back in
09:30that situation?
09:32Um, whoa, tough to explain. Yeah, just out of position. We just, yeah, we end up out
09:38of, out of shape and not for really any great reason. Um, decision-making, I guess, or maybe
09:45a loss of focus. And like the question I was just asked about, maybe the emotion and getting
09:50caught up in the, the frantic nature of the game took us away from thinking clearly enough
09:55and focusing on our own jobs and where we were supposed to be. So, um, yeah, crazy,
10:02crazy goals. Never, never, never seen anything like it from us before. So, um, we'll need
10:08to make sure that we get to the bottom of why and how it's happened and, and that it
10:12doesn't happen again.
10:14Is it, is it reality that some things, you know, not so good and maybe people might have
10:21delivered, you know, some wrong kicks or whatever, things might have gotten, tensions might have
10:26flared into a reality that's pretty different from what we're used to?
10:30Still wouldn't know how much longer we're going to be together.
10:32I mean, it's almost as if we can't afford to lose that rag about.
10:37Yeah, no, yeah, there's, there's no losing of rag. Um, but they know how strongly I
10:43feel about the errors that were made. Um, and they know that I include myself in any
10:49criticism. So, um, there is a togetherness and there is a, you know, we, we suffer that
10:55together. Um, and it will always be that way while, while, while I'm here and they're my
11:01team. So, um, but they know how I feel about all of them. Um, they know I feel strongly
11:07about how the second half went and, um, they know how keen I'll be, um, to start to put
11:14things right as quickly as possible.
11:21Thanks guys.