Julen Lopetegui
Wolves boss Julen Lopetegui says he didn’t pick his side at Arsenal with next season in mind, but because his options were limited by injuries.
Lopetegui made six changes but saw his team beaten 5-0 in their final game of the campaign as two goals from Granit Xhaka and one from Bukayo Saka put the hosts 3-0 up inside 27 minutes before second half goals from Gabriel Jesus and Jakub Kiwior completed the rout.
Lopetegui said Daniel Podence, Diego Costa and Pedro Neto all missed out on the matchday squad through injury.
Julen Lopetegui added: “Pedro is out, Daniel Podence is out, Diego Costa is out, they have had little problems and that’s why they stay out. Podence has had a little surgery in his nose. Neto is a hamstring.”
The manager had rung the changes from last week’s 1-1 draw at home to Everton as Jose Sa, Mario Lemina, Raul Jimenez, Max Kilman, Matheus Nunes and Hugo Bueno were recalled to the side while Dan Bentley, Craig Dawson Toti, Ruben Neves and Pablo Sarabia dropped to the bench and Daniel Podence missed out on the squad.
He confirmed that injuries were the main reason for selection rather than using the game to experiment for next season.
Julen Lopetegui said: “No, we have had problems with players for different injuries and surgeries. This can happen when you achieve your aim three matches before, any player who has any problem prefers to have a little surgery now. That is why we have this problem. It is a line-up thinking about the match today. After we have problems with the players but we’re not thinking about the future.”
