Express & Star

Wolves boss Nuno so proud but dodges European talk after Watford win

Nuno Espirito Santo spoke of his pride at beating Watford – but refused to discuss the possibility of European football at Molineux next season.

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Nuno celebrates at Vicarage Road (© AMA / Sam Bagnall)

Goals from Raul Jimenez and Diogo Jota earned Wolves a big 2-1 victory at Vicarage Road to put them four points clear in seventh.

They may be able to cement that position next Sunday by beating relegated Fulham at Molineux – and a win for Manchester City in the FA Cup final would hand Wolves European football for the first time since 1980.

However Nuno said: "Everybody is speaking about (Europe) but the final of the FA Cup still has to be played, so why should we worry about anything else?

"It has never been our aim or goal to compete in European competition, since, I don't know (1980/81).

"We've achieved mathematically staying in the Premier League, nobody said that.

"Now we achieved mathematically that we stay in the top half of the table, nobody's mentioning that. And last season we were playing in the Championship.

"We're not thinking about (seventh) because it doesn't guarantee anything. We don't have to think about it – just focus on what we have to do.

"The players have been motivated since the beginning and their motivation is to become better.

"All the good things we've done allowed us the window of growing that we must take.

"We must know where we came from – last season we were playing against Burton, with all my respect. Now we are here. So let's take this chance and become a better team."

Wolves edged a tight game against the Hornets with Jota netting a winner 12 minutes from time.

It gave Wolves a bit of revenge for their FA Cup semi-final defeat earlier this month.

"I'm satisfied," Nuno added. "It was a tough game. In the first half I think we played really well against a tough opponent, well organised.

"The boys worked phenomenal. All the effort, the runs, in our philosophy and idea. Team spirit, well done, I must say I'm really proud of them.

"Raul and Diogo, the more time they spend together the better they'll be. It's not only them, it's all the team.

"It was quality. In the right moment a one-touch finish requires a lot of quality so I'm very proud of it.

"It has nothing to do (with the semi-final). The past is the past. This is over now, we must prepare for Fulham.

"Until the end we have a chance to go on a high, always trying to perform better because the future is more important now."