Wolves Coach Gary O’Neil Commends Toti Gomes’ Development

Wolves head coach Gary O’Neil expressed his satisfaction, stating he is “really pleased with the progression” of versatile defender Toti Gomes. Gomes served as Wolves’ sole fit recognised centre-back during their impressive 4-1 victory at Fulham last weekend. Despite primarily playing rugby in his childhood and only seriously engaging with football in his teenage years, the 25-year-old is now a regular starter for the Premier League club and made his senior debut for Portugal last season. O’Neil commented on Gomes’s inherent physical capabilities, saying: “He had the physical attributes to allow him to play at Premier League level, no doubt. He was quick enough and strong enough.” The coach further detailed the areas of development for Gomes: “We had to work on some of his understanding of defending, how to defend some spaces – and we’re still working hard on that stuff. And the big thing was trying to get him to a better level with the ball – not technically, because technically he’s capable – but just trying to give him better pictures that were clearer for him and give him a better understanding.” O’Neil highlighted Gomes’s exceptional dedication, noting: “The real trump card Toti has is that everything you give him, he will literally keep trying until you blow the whistle and tell him to go. He’ll keep doing it for as long as he can and he’ll keep trying to get better.” He added that Gomes is highly regarded within the team: “He’s a great lad to have in the group, the lads and the coaching staff love him. He’s one of those guys you root for.” O’Neil also spoke about the collective sentiment towards Gomes: “When you see him doing well, because of the journey he’s been on, you are really pleased for him. If he has a bad game, everyone is really disappointed for him because we know how hard he’s worked and how well he wants to do.” Concluding his remarks, O’Neil affirmed the comprehensive support provided to all players: “He gets a lot of support, as do all of the players. I support all of them with everything I have to try to get them into a place where they feel comfortable to be able to perform, but they still feel enough of that pressure that they know they need to [perform well]. Hopefully we’re in that sweet spot at the moment.”