Wolves' Struggles Are Not Coach O'Neil's Fault, Argues Captain Mario Lemina

Wolves captain Mario Lemina has defended manager Gary O'Neil amidst criticism over the team's poor performance, attributing blame to the players rather than the coach for their current position at the bottom of the Premier League table, BBC reported. Lemina, reflecting on Wolves' recent 5-3 defeat to Brentford, admitted his responsibility in conceding a penalty and emphasized the need for honest self-evaluation among the players to avoid relegation. He denied that O'Neil is at fault, labeling such accusations as those of "liars and cheaters." He highlighted the positive changes the manager has brought, urging players to support O’Neil with better performances.

O'Neil himself acknowledged the tactical disconnect and accepted that his instructions are not always executed, as evidenced by the defensive errors against Brentford. Lemina handed the captaincy after Max Kilman's transfer to West Ham, admitted the team's struggles to comprehend O'Neil’s strategies, which have contributed to their inability to manage games effectively. He emphasized improving their understanding of the game plan to prevent repeated defensive lapses contributing to possible relegation.

Despite fluctuations in fan support due to the lack of victories in the first seven games – marking Wolves' worst start in two decades – Lemina observed that the fans still hold fond regard for O'Neil. He pointed to frustration over substitutions, notably replacing defensive midfielder Andre with attacker Hwang Hee-chan while trailing 4-2. After reflecting on a strong early response from Matheus Cunha and goals from Jorgen Strand Larsen and Rayan Ait-Nouri against Brentford, Lemina remains determined, focusing on overcoming tactical issues and viewing upcoming matches, including facing champions Manchester City, as pivotal in righting their course.

Earlier, SSP wrote that BCCI introduced new rule for player withdrawals from IPL.