Leander Dendoncker
Wolves are entering their fourth consecutive season in top-flight football after their promotion to the Premier League in 2018. Following a previous six-year absence from the highest level competition, Wolves have now cemented as a top flight club as they enter a new era under new head-coach Bruno Lage. Under former boss Nuno Espirito Santo, Wolves achieved the club’s highest Premier League rank and the highest in English top-flight since 1979/80. They have also reached the quarter-final of the Europa League, which had been the first time competing in a European competition since 1980/81.
Leander Dendoncker said: “The last four years has been a great journey for this club and for all the people within this club. When you look that we were still playing in the Championship not even four years ago, and in the meantime, we’ve played in a Europa League quarter-final, I think that’s a massive achievement for this club.”
With the achievements of the club in recent years, Dendoncker believes supporters ‘played a massive role in the success that we’ve had.’ Under the former Portuguese giants manager, Bruno Lage, despite the shortened pre-season for many players due to international commitments, a new era at the club has began.
Leander Dendoncker continued: “Everything is new, and you always need time to build up to everything, not only for the players but also for the staff. They have to get to know the players, we have to get to know the staff, so we might need some time to get used to it, but there isn’t much time left now. It’s up to us to try and work hard every day to be ready for Leicester. But now there’s a new manager, it’s a new start for everyone and it’s up to us to create a new journey so we can write history again with this club. We will try and do everything we can to achieve that.”
Wolves will travel to the King Power Stadium to face FA Cup winners Leicester City on the opening fixture of the 2021/22 campaign, Dendoncker insisted the squad is going to be ‘focused right from the start.’
Leander Dendoncker said: “The first three games are really tough for us, so we’ve got to be ready for that.”
The away trip will then be followed by two home visits from former boss Nuno Espirito Santo and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s Manchester United.
Leander Dendoncker added: “When I speak to friends who play in the Premier League, they always say it’s tough to come and play here at the Molineux and play against Wolves, in general. We’re always really well organised and we’re just a good team. It’s not a secret anymore. Last season was a bit unfortunate for us, with injuries, other things and Covid, of course, but that was not easy for everyone so that was no excuse. I think the first two seasons in the Premier League were amazing and people know, and have seen, that we can be a really good team, so it’s up to us to try and find that new level again under a new manager.”
Fans returning at full-capacity to stadiums is also something that the 26-year-old is delighted about.
Leander Dendincker said: “It’s massive for us. I think that may be one of the reasons why we performed less good than the first two seasons. In those seasons, I think every home game was very hard for the away team which came to play here, mainly because of the fans. The more support there is and the more support you feel, the more energy it gives to you to go and fight for every ball, so that’s a good thing for us and we all want to play an entire season with fans again.”
The Wanderers will play at the King Power Stadium on Saturday at 3pm.
