Wolves and Ireland defender Matt Doherty praises boss Nuno Espirito Santo ahead of Manchester United clash
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Wolves and Ireland defender Matt Doherty praises boss Nuno Espirito Santo ahead of Manchester United clash

Wolverhampton Wanderers wing-back Matt Doherty has hailed the impact of Portuguese manager Nuno Espirito Santo on his career.

The Dubliner was a regular in the starting line-up for the Molineux men as they romped to Championship success last year and has made the step-up to Premier League football with relative ease.

Wolves currently sit in 9th place - only one point behind tomorrow’s opponents Manchester United.

Doherty has been there through the highs and lows for the club, who were playing League One football as recently as 2014.

And the 26 year-old singled out Espirito Santo for particular praise.

“He’s definitely the best coach that I’ve worked with, 100 per cent,” said Doherty.

Nuno Espirito Santo, Manager of Wolverhampton Wanderers is carried across the pitch after winning the Sky Bet Championship during the Sky Bet Championship match between Wolverhampton Wanderers and Sheffield Wednesday at Molineux on April 28, 2018 in Wolverhampton, England. (Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images)

“He’s out on the training pitch every day. Some managers might just be on the sidelines and let the coaches take the training sessions.

“But he takes every session. With managers that we’ve had here before, the players that didn’t play would train and the manager wouldn’t even go out to watch that session, but he’s there taking it. And that just helps the boys.

“I remember I used to train when I wasn’t playing and if the manager doesn’t come out, it’s hard to get into it – there’s nobody watching who you’re trying to impress. Stuff like that helps a lot. His man-management skills are excellent. He’s just a top, top manager.”

According to the Express and Star, owner Jeff Shin wants the club to be bigger than Manchester City within 10 years.

Doherty said:  “It’s up to us, the players that are here at the moment, to try to produce for them because all the stuff that they’re doing - the players that they’re bringing in and the training ground - they’re backing us so we have to back them as well.”