Wolverhampton Wanderers travel to Manchester United in the Premier League this weekend with Nuno Espirito Santo’s side in fine form.
Wolverhampton Wanderers have come a long way since Dean Saunders was in the Molineux dugout.
The 54-year-old Welshman was only Wolves’ manager from January to May in 2013 and his spell in the Black Country certainly didn’t go to plan. Saunders planned to challenge for promotion when he replaced Stale Solbakken but they ended the campaign suffering relegation to League One.
These days, however, Wolves are ninth in the Premier League, having stormed to the Championship title last season under Nuno Espirito Santo.
Wolves have won their last two games against West Ham and Burnley but face a much tougher test this weekend as they face an in-form Manchester United at Old Trafford.
But Saunders has backed his former side to cause a shock, pointing out that United will come off the back of a Champions League trip to Switzerland on Tuesday and believing that fatigue could be a factor.
“If you see the stats of some of the teams coming back from the Champions League, it’s unbelievable,” Saunders told Alan Brazil’s Sports Breakfast on talkSPORT (20 September, 9:00am).
“They’ve been playing on a plastic pitch which will be tough on the knees and the back. And Wolves are flying so if youre looking for a bet…”
Manchester United have won each of their last three games, cruising to a 3-0 win away at Young Boys in midweek thanks to a double from the influential Paul Pogba.
So, while victories against Burnley and West Ham were impressive, this will be a much bigger test of Wolves’ progress.
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