Rob Edwards said the team showed great fighting spirit and tenacity, which is exactly the kind of performance he hoped to see in the second half.
2025-12-28 08:50
Rob Edwards highly praised the courage and fighting spirit his team displayed in the second half at Anfield, but he also admitted that such performance must be maintained in the long term. Liverpool's two goals before halftime forced him to make tactical adjustments. The halftime break provided him with an opportunity to redeploy, and he was impressed by the team's continued fighting spirit in the second half until the final whistle.
Santiago Bueno's second goal of the season reignited the suspense in the game, and Wolves continued to press their opponents, seeking an equalizer until the final whistle. Although the result remained unchanged, the team's fighting spirit sent a positive signal to the manager.
After the match, Rob Edwards said, "Despite being down 0-2, the team still showed great fighting spirit. The second goal was very disappointing. We had just regained possession when we lost the duel, and then our defense was out of position, allowing the opponent to score again. In this kind of home environment, the atmosphere is extremely noisy, like being in a washing machine, which makes it easy for players to make mistakes."
"After halftime, we adjusted our tactics and reorganized our attack. In the second half, the team showed an outstanding performance, full of fighting spirit, courage and a high level of tactical execution. The team played aggressively and proactively, which is exactly the kind of performance I wanted to see in the second half, and I hope to learn more lessons from it."
Speaking about the second half performance, he said, "This is exactly what we asked the players to do. We made one or two tactical adjustments, and they worked very well. Matthäus Mane played brilliantly throughout the game; his cuts inside caused the opposing defense a lot of trouble. We were often able to find him between their lines, allowing him to create opportunities. Those one or two adjustments, coupled with the players' resilience, belief, fighting spirit, and never-give-up attitude, are all commendable."
"Liverpool's pressing in the first half certainly pushed us back, but we still need to be aggressive, improve our possession, and be more decisive. We did that in the second half and looked like a strong team. However, football is ultimately about results, and that's something we still need to improve on."
“We need to start this game from the beginning, just like we did at the end of Tuesday’s game. The schedule isn’t ideal, with only three days of rest between Anfield and Old Trafford. Many teams will be affected by injuries, suspensions, or players participating in the Africa Cup of Nations.”
“We need to take good care of our players and give them plenty of rest. Now another player is suspended and unavailable, so we need to assess our available lineup. However, the form and energy we showed in the second half is something we must carry into Wednesday’s game.”