MX23RW : Friday, April 19 03:37:03| >> :600:1760436:1760436:
[monks data]
Attendance: 14,525
Espanyol logo
Europa League | Round of 32
Feb 27, 2020 at 5.55pm UK
 
Wolves logo

3-2

Calleri (16', 57' pen., 90')
FT(HT: 1-1)
Traore (22'), Doherty (79')

Nuno admits it is "impossible'" to stop expectations rising around Wolves

Nuno admits it is
© Reuters
Wolves will find out their Europa League last-16 opponents on Friday.

Wolves boss Nuno Espirito Santo admits he is powerless to stop rising expectation levels after his side reached the last 16 of the Europa League.

Jonathan Calleri's hat-trick earned Espanyol a 3-2 second-leg victory on Thursday but Wolves progressed 6-3 on aggregate.

Adama Traore and Matt Doherty netted for the visitors in Barcelona.

Wolves are also two points off fifth in the Premier League and, after reaching the latter stages of the Europa League, Nuno conceded there is little he can do to keep his side out of the spotlight.

He said: "It's impossible, my job is this squad. How can I manage outside expectations?

"We are on the journey, we focus on our daily process, tomorrow we will train, Saturday we're going to train and then we will travel to play Tottenham (on Sunday).

"It's massive for the club and city, we are happy. We want to keep going. This gel between players is amazing.

"You can only evaluate and dedicate some time (to the achievement) when you've finished. We are on the journey. When you are on that you have to focus on a daily basis and keep on going.

"Tomorrow is the draw, let's see. I'm focused on what we have to do and what we have to do is recover in the dressing room."

Despite defeat Wolves never looked in danger of losing their first-leg advantage after last week's 4-0 win at Molineux.

Calleri opened the scoring after 16 minutes but Barcelona-born Traore levelled soon after.

Former West Ham loanee Calleri restored the hosts' lead 11 minutes after the break from the spot after Max Kilman's high foot on David Lopez.

Doherty levelled from close range after 79 minutes and, after Pedro Neto missed an open goal, Calleri completed his hat-trick in injury time.

Nuno added: "We should have done better but the hard work was there and we made something which is massive for us. It was a lot of hard work last season so we are proud of what we have been doing."

Espanyol, bottom of LaLiga, host Atletico Madrid on Sunday in their battle against the drop and boss Abelardo Fernandez hopes victory can aid their survival fight.

"The best way to prepare for a game is a victory but we need to be sounder in defence," he said.

"It's good mentally for us, when you play again in three days knowing you won the last one it's great for you.

"It's a different competition and rivals but hopefully this victory will be good for us.

"We recovered some good sensations after (Molineux) defeat. We played some good stuff.

"The second half was OK, it was foolish play on our side for their second goal but I think the fans enjoyed it."

ID:391127: cacheID:391127:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:4356:No Data Analysis info
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Head Abelardo Fernandez of Sporting Gijon reacts during the La Liga match between Sporting Gijon and Real Madrid at Estadio El Molinon on August 23, 201
Read Next:
Abelardo Fernandez urges Espanyol to be "brave and daring" against Wolves
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS

Group A

TeamPWDLPTS
QWest Ham650115
QFreiburg640212
3Olympiacos62137
4Backa Topola60151

Group B

TeamPWDLPTS
QBrighton641113
QMarseille632111
3Ajax61235
4AEK Athens61144

Group C

TeamPWDLPTS
QRangers632111
QSparta Prague631210
3Betis63039
4Aris Limassol61144

Group D

TeamPWDLPTS
QAtalanta642014
QSporting Lisbon632111
3Sturm Graz61144
4Rakow61144

Group E

TeamPWDLPTS
QLiverpool640212
QToulouse632111
3Union SG62228
4LASK61053

Group F

TeamPWDLPTS
QVillarreal641113
QRennes640212
3M. Haifa61235
4Panathinaikos61144

Group G

TeamPWDLPTS
QSlavia Prague650115
QRoma641113
3Servette61235
4Sheriff Tiraspol60151

Group H

TeamPWDLPTS
QB. Leverkusen660018
QQarabag631210
3Molde62137
4Hacken60060


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!