It was the clever footwork of Wolves defender Totti Gomes that brought home his winning goal against Fulham last time out in the Premier League. He controlled the ball with his left foot and passed the ball to Ryan At Nouri with his right foot.
Two perfect touches, but it wasn’t even his best contribution of the season. It came against Newcastle in October when he found himself on the right wing, and lifted the ball to Hee-Chan Hwang before taking off his marker.
“It was a good moment,” he tells you Sky Sports. Isn’t that what you would expect from a 6’3″ defender? He disagrees. “Sometimes I do that in training,” he insists. “I was in a position more in front of the pitch and I know I wish I could do it. I believed I could do it.”
The parrot’s self-confidence is more than justified, appearing as one of the surprises of the season. The 25-year-old Portuguese defender, a £1m signing from Estoril four summers ago, was not even at Wolves starting the campaign.
Since he has become a key figure, Gary O’Neill’s team can inspire spirits as they chase a European place. Toti was recently awarded a new contract, making his international debut for Portugal in November.
“I’m feeling good. I have the minutes that I always wanted to show my football. I’m having fun with the people there and learning a lot through the game. I always believe that Every time I play, I give my best.”
Wolves have been a better team with Totti in it. After losing four of their first five Premier League games under O’Neil, he came into the team against champions Manchester City at the end of September and played a key role in an unexpected 2-1 win at Molineux.
His front foot defense was key in this game, adding dynamism to Wolves’ defence. His ability to step out and win the ball also earned him another assist when his header found Hwang for the Korean’s second goal in a 4-1 win at Brentford in December.
Wolves have taken 37 points from their 22 games since then, with Totti starting all but one of them. When he was sidelined against Fulham due to a system change, he returned to the pitch before half-time and provided the assist for the opening goal.
It was a turn to choose him, then? “This is not about one player,” Totti says. “This is a team. It’s the idea that coach asked us to do. Of course, we didn’t start well. But later on, the chemistry was better and we started doing well.”
His humility can best be explained by his journey to the Premier League. He is not a young prodigy like many of his peers. Totti had barely broken into Estoril’s first team when he was snapped up by Wolves and immediately loaned out to Switzerland’s second tier.
He helped the Grasshoppers progress before finally making his Wolves debut under Bruno Leigh, featuring further under Julen Lopetegui, before finally prospering under O’Neill. His rise is reflected in his relationships with some of his teammates.
The age difference between Nelson Semedo, the man on the other side in this Wolves team, may not seem that big, but his 30-year-old compatriot was playing for Barcelona alongside Lionel Messi when Totti was still dreaming of a career in the game. he .
“I wasn’t a professional yet because I started late. I saw him at home, watching sports with his father on TV. I remember it well, so it’s good to be with these guys and learn from them every day in training. I’m really happy to be here with them.”
It is this spirit that has endeared him to this group.
“I always knew his quality,” says Semedo Sky Sports.
“I knew immediately that he came from his loan that he is a worker and that he has a good relationship with the ball, very strong, very fast, it did not surprise me because I knew that he How good, it was the right choice to bring him back from debt.
Before long, O’Neil recognized this as well.
“He had to bide his time,” O’Neil says Sky Sports. “But he is such a good professional that he never showed frustration and never panicked.” Ghaffar asked him to do something, so he did it. And he just started to show that he is ready.
The importance of this attitude can hardly be overstated, especially as O’Neil himself emphasized. “He is very important not only to the team but also to the group and the quality that we want. He is one of the good ones.
What does the parrot think about these words? “I’ve always been like that, even when I wasn’t playing,” he explains.
“Of course, everyone wants to play but sometimes you have to wait for your moment and it will come – even if it takes time. When the opportunity comes, you have to make sure you take it and do well. I always try. Make sure I’m ready for the occasion.
“Mentally, I’ve always been very strong.”
Totti is often used as a left-sided centre-back in a back three but this role is a bit more complex than that as he often finds himself operating as a left-back. Nouri goes on with it. Being able to adjust is part of his holiday.
O’Neil considers him a left back. “Especially when we keep it low in construction,” he says. “He can do both.” As for the parrot, the message from him is that he will take care of it. “Gary is telling me to do this and that and it’s going well. I feel comfortable.”
Isn’t it difficult, strategy?
“Not really because we’ve been doing it in training, of course, every team is different, they have different styles and players, sometimes I have a few different roles in defence. But I am used to it now and I feel comfortable. Do it on the pitch.”
He adds: “It’s the little details, the way he explains it, and it really makes a difference.” When he’s teaching us on the training ground, it’s much easier to get the information when we go into training. Pitch, we can do it very easily.”
With O’Neil’s help, he has earned his place in the Wolves team – and the Portugal one too. “It was a really proud moment for me and my family, something I always wanted to achieve.” After making it this far, Tote Gomez shows no signs of letting up.
“I’m going to keep working.”
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