Wolves secured an emphatic 3-0 victory over Leicester City on Sunday, marking an impressive start to Vitor Pereira’s tenure as manager.
The win came at a crucial time for Wolves, who had been struggling in recent weeks—a run of poor results that culminated in Gary O’Neil’s dismissal following the defeat to Ipswich Town.
With only a few days to prepare, Pereira managed to deliver a transformed performance from his new side at the King Power Stadium.
Wolves showed clinical finishing in the attacking third, taking full advantage of Leicester’s defensive lapses.
Even more strikingly, the team displayed a newfound defensive solidity. Wolves were compact, organized, and in control throughout the game, a sharp contrast to the vulnerabilities seen under O’Neil.
Adding to the day’s significance, Matheus Cunha wore the captain’s armband for the first time, a moment that reflected Wolves’ changing dynamics under Pereira.
How Lemina and Semedo responded after Matheus Cunha wore the captain’s armband:
The captaincy has been a topic of discussion at Wolves in recent weeks. Mario Lemina was stripped of the role after his emotional reaction to the West Ham loss, with Nelson Semedo stepping in as captain under O’Neil.
Pereira, however, hinted in his first press conference that the armband could change hands again.
Semedo started as captain against Leicester, but when he was substituted in the 89th minute, the armband was passed to Cunha—a moment that clearly meant a lot to the Brazilian. He shared his pride on Instagram, writing:
“First time captain of this team. It’s a pleasure to learn from you @nelsonsemedo50 @lemsm13.”
Both Semedo and Lemina responded to Cunha’s post. Semedo praised him as a “very prepared man,” while Lemina simply wrote “Baller.”
Another standout performance from Cunha
While Gonçalo Guedes arguably stood out as Wolves’ best player against Leicester, Cunha delivered another strong performance.
After struggling in the final games under O’Neil, the Brazilian appeared revitalized under Pereira’s leadership, contributing both on and off the pitch.
The moment Cunha received the captain’s armband was particularly significant, as some fans had advocated for him to take on the role in the summer, ahead of Lemina. However, Pereira’s decision regarding the captaincy remains to be seen.
Semedo appears to be a steady and sensible choice for now, given his calm and composed demeanor compared to the more emotional approaches of Lemina and Cunha.
Maintaining stability in leadership could be key for Wolves as they aim to build on their strong start under Pereira.