NafisaWolves manager Vitor Pereira admitted he felt moved after several players bid farewell in the dressing room following a 1-1 stalemate with Brentford on the final day of the campaign.
Brentford entered the contest with faint hopes of securing European qualification but needed a victory and favourable results elsewhere.
Bryan Mbeumo’s opener in the first half boosted those chances at the break, but Wolves kept pushing for a leveller and Mark Flekken was called into action with five saves before being finally beaten by a spectacular first-time strike from Marshall Munetsi that rocketed into the top corner.
Post-match, the players returned to the field with their families, and both Nelson Semedo and Matheus Cunha made their way to the Sir Jack Hayward stand in what appeared to be a parting gesture to the fans.
Semedo’s deal is expiring and he has yet to commit to a four-year extension currently on offer, while Cunha has been the subject of interest from Manchester United.
Pereira said: “This is a group of players, maybe the best group that I worked with until now. We don’t know if the players that will leave, maybe some of them will leave but we want to keep the base. Maybe the last game from some of them.
“We start to speak, the emotions come. I cannot leave my players without a big hug before the holidays.
“You saw the same (Cunha saying goodbye), Nelson too. I don’t know. But what is important, and what I said to them I will keep them in my heart and wish them the best.
“Sometimes in our life we need to make decisions, if they decide for another way I wish them the best and will keep them in my heart and I’m very grateful for what they did in the last months.”
Wolves have registered 10 victories from 22 matches since Pereira arrived at Molineux and has helped transform their season after being stranded near the drop zone before the festive period.
Asked about how he rated his debut season, Pereira said: “Fantastic. This is not only because I’m a manager in the best league in the world but the connection with the people.
“They make me feel part of the family since the first day and this is what I said to my players and staff. We are very grateful for the support they gave us. Next season we must come with recharged energy to do better.”
A draw at Molineux meant Brentford fell short of European qualification next term but secured a top-half finish for the second time since their promotion in 2021.
Thomas Frank said: “Before the season if you said we finished 10th, people would’ve said it’s impressive and there’s probably a few clubs below us who would take top 10. It’s impressive two times in four seasons we have finished in top 10.
“We have scored a record number of goals for us, a front three who have scored 50 goals.
“To have a 20 goal goalscorer (Mbeumo) in the Premier League, two out of four seasons, a club who are not a top-three or four club, it’s something to be proud of.”
Nafisa
