Wolves boss Walter Zenga: I thrive on pressure
Walter Zenga says he loves the pressure of being Wolves boss – and is spurred on by those who dislike him.
The Italian came under fire from some quarters of after overseeing successive defeats before the international break.
There were even reports on Sunday that his job could soon be under threat, or that the Molineux hierarchy took issue with him visiting his family in Dubai last week.
Both suggestions are believed to be wide of the mark. And they were brushed aside by a resolute Zenga, who said he was enjoying the challenge of moulding a winning team at Molineux.
"If I don't accept that somebody can write something bad about me, or without information, I have to change my job!" he told the Express & Star.
"I love when the people don't like me. Do you know why? Because they give me more power to work better.
"If someone writes 'Oh he didn't win, it's better that Mourinho comes'...
"Well if you're thinking that Mourinho brings this team the Premier League after two months...welcome! I'm happy for them!"
Zenga will take his team to Villa Park this weekend for the first of two tough-looking away trips in quick succession, with Wolves then travelling to Brighton on Tuesday evening.
Wolves are currently five points off the play-offs after 11 Championship matches. But Zenga, whose reign began just two months ago, reiterated that it would take time for his squad, which contains 12 new signings, to gel and that he should be judged at the end of the season.
"My job is hard and more difficult because I watch the training, the game, the opposite team, so I don't have time all the time to fix everything," he said. "But I love this kind of pressure, I love this job.
"I'm enjoying the challenge. This is my character – my strength is all about the enthusiasm and the passion. I create immediately the feeling between me and the club
"For a coach to know everything about his team he needs some months, not some days. It takes time."
The majority of Zenga's squad have been available for training over the international break, bar the likes of Carl Ikeme, Romain Saiss, David Edwards, Dominic Iorfa and Jon Dadi Bodvarsson.
The latter surprisingly lined up for Iceland despite missing Wolves' last two games with a groin injury.
But Zenga said there was no issue with Bodvarsson playing for his country.
He said of last week and Bodvarsson: "Last week we did a nice, intensive, tactical, technical and physical week.
"Now we await the last players back from international competition and from Thursday everybody will be here.
"All the players are OK. Bodvarsson has played for Iceland – their game was eight days after our Norwich game.
"The first game (against Finland) he didn't play, but the second he has and played 60 minutes, this is normal after eight days.
"His last game for us was against Brentford and the time in between is normal (for his injury).
"We hope he's OK for Saturday, yes."
