Express & Star

Nuno: Wolves must focus on Manchester United before FA Cup

Nuno Espirito Santo warned it would be a ‘big mistake’ if Wolves get distracted by Sunday’s FA Cup semi-final against Watford.

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Nuno

Manchester United are the visitors to Molineux tonight for an important Premier League clash, five days before the club’s first semi-final appearance since 1998.

Head coach Nuno has called for his players to be fully focused on the task at hand tonight.

“The reality is we have a game tonight and Sunday – we cannot take away from our minds what’s going to happen after but this would be a big mistake,” he said.

“We go game by game and do the tasks we have to do in this game, perform well and get ready for the next one.

“It’s a simple process.”

Wolves are seventh in the table having enjoyed a superb first season back in the top flight.

Nuno, however, insists Wolves’ league position doesn’t matter.

“It doesn’t mean anything, the table doesn’t mean anything,” he said.

“Many people are trying to say we have objectives, the gap (to teams below), it doesn’t mean anything. Football goes beyond results and what you’re trying to build

“We have an advantage because we did the work well to improve ourselves.

“But without the concerns of the results this aspect is very good for us.”

Wolves slipped up on Saturday when the lost 2-0 to Burnley at Turf Moor.

Nuno admitted the Clarets’ first goal, a quick free-kick to the near post, surprised his team.

“Burnley were smarter than us in that moment,” said Nuno.

“You reflect and you analyse, you see all the games Burnley did before and they never did a fast free-kick before because they have such height.

“You finish up and ask why did that happen – because they were smarter than us.

“I don’t know if you use the expression cat and mouse, sometimes it’s up to us to surprise our opponents.”