--- title: "Wolves: Matt Murray hails ‘different mentality’ of Nuno Espirito Santo’s team" canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/wolves-matt-murray-hails-different-mentality-of-nuno-espirito-santos-team/" type: "post" language: "en-GB" author: "Liam Togher" section: "Features" published: "2019-11-16T21:00:14Z" modified: "2019-11-16T21:00:14Z" --- # Wolves: Matt Murray hails ‘different mentality’ of Nuno Espirito Santo’s team **Former Wolves goalkeeper has lauded the current team at Molineux under Nuno Espirito Santo, praising their “different mentality” against the Premier League’s ‘big six’.** After [finishing seventh](https://www.premierleague.com/tables?co=1&se=210&ha=-1) and qualifying for Europe last season, Wolves are now [eighth in the Premier League](https://www.premierleague.com/tables?co=1&se=210&ha=-1) following a [seven-game unbeaten run in the division](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/wolverhampton-wanderers/spielplandatum/verein/543) and [on the brink of qualifying for the knockout rounds of the Europa League](https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/standings/). Murray, who [played in a Wolves team](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/matt-murray/leistungsdatendetails/spieler/4234) that [won promotion to the top flight in 2003](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/wolverhampton-wanderers/platzierungen/verein/543) but were [relegated a year later after finishing bottom](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/wolverhampton-wanderers/platzierungen/verein/543), has saluted the change in mentality that Nuno’s team have against higher-profile clubs compared to previous Wolves sides. He told the [Express & Star](https://www.expressandstar.com/sport/football/wolverhampton-wanderers-fc/2019/11/15/matt-murray-this-is-the-best-wolves-team-ive-seen/): “If someone had told me when I was nine that we’d be playing in Europe and, also, have a real belief when we play the top six that we could come out with anything, I wouldn’t have believed it. “Usually it would be the upcoming run of games that we would think would be season defining. Playing Brighton, Sheffield United, West Ham – those are all of the teams that we would have focused on. “We’d have made eight changes against Man U because we’d just have written those games off. If we did get something it would have been a bonus, but now I think there is a real different mentality. A real belief around the club.” Murray is absolutely right to acknowledge Wolves’ record against the teams who finished above them in the Premier League last season. In the 2018/19 Premier League, Nuno’s side [defeated Chelsea, Tottenham, Manchester United and Arsenal](https://www.premierleague.com/results?co=1&se=210&cl=38), as well as [drawing at home to eventual champions Manchester City](https://www.premierleague.com/results?co=1&se=210&cl=38) – Liverpool were the only team to [finish above them](https://www.premierleague.com/tables?co=1&se=210&ha=-1) and [beat them twice](https://www.premierleague.com/results?co=1&se=210&cl=38), and Wolves managed to [knock them out of the FA Cup](https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/46718633) for good measure. In games against that sextet this season, Wolves have [drawn with Manchester United and Arsenal](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/wolverhampton-wanderers/spielplandatum/verein/543) while [beating Manchester City away](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/wolverhampton-wanderers/spielplandatum/verein/543), the first time they did so in a league game for almost 40 years (as per [BBC](https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/49868094)). Their [0-0 draw at Leicester](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/wolverhampton-wanderers/spielplandatum/verein/543) in their first Premier League game this term looks an increasingly impressive result in the context of the excellent campaign that the Foxes have gone on to have, with [eight wins in their last 10](https://www.premierleague.com/tables?co=1&se=210&ha=-1) taking them up to [second in the table](https://www.premierleague.com/tables?co=1&se=210&ha=-1). Wolves could easily have won that game, too, with a Leander Dendoncker goal being disallowed following a VAR review which deemed Willy Boly to have handled the ball in the build-up. \[[via BBC](https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/49223796)\] They have also shown an appetite for the big occasion in Europe, winning their [last three group games in a row](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/wolverhampton-wanderers/spielplandatum/verein/543) against seasoned continental participants in [Besiktas](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/besiktas-istanbul/pokalhistorie/verein/114) and [Slovan Bratislava](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/slovan-bratislava/pokalhistorie/verein/540), with two of those triumphs being [achieved away from home](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/wolverhampton-wanderers/spielplandatum/verein/543). Wolves face Champions League participants [Tottenham, Manchester City and Liverpool](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/wolverhampton-wanderers/spielplandatum/verein/543) during December. If they can take points in some, or all, of those, it would reinforce Murray’s views about the current Molineux crop showing a tremendous self-belief when they go up against England’s elite. ***Wolves fans, do you agree with Murray’s point about Nuno’s team having a different mentality to their predecessors? Share your views in the comments section below!***