Romain Saiss was in top form as Wolverhampton Wanderers beat Serie A outfit Torino to qualify for the Europa League group stages.
As Tears for Fears rang out around a jubilant Molineux, the only tears on show were those of joy. Wolves might not rule the world just yet but they are into the Europa League group-stages for the first time after beating a tricky Torino side over two legs.
After a 3-2 win in Italy inspired by a Raul Jimenez wonderstrike, the Mexican goal-machine was on target again at Molineux before Leander Dendoncker put the cap on a 5-3 aggregate victory.
And, not for the first time and not for the last, unsung hero Romain Saiss stepped up to the plate when required and delivered a performance full of class and combativeness on the big occasion.
The Morocco international has long been seen as the understated heart of Nuno Espirito Santo’s team, overshadowed by Ruben Neves and Joao Moutinho despite producing 7/10 performances on a weekly basis.
Saiss has played just nine minutes in Wolves’s first three Premier League games of the new season but his excellent reading of the game and ability to win back possession before starting attacks from deep could make him one of the first names on Nuno’s team sheet on the continent.
Saiss made three tackles, three interceptions, seven clearances and won three aerial duels against Torino on Thursday night. It’s about time this most underrated of footballers got the credit he deserves.
Whisper it but some Wolves fans even believe he is a better option than Ruben Neves in front of the defence.
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