Wolves boss Walter Zenga: We have to take risks with new squad

Zenga gave five players their full league debuts – plus the returning Richard Stearman – for Saturday's 1-1 draw against Burton.

More changes can be expected tonight as Wolves host third-placed Barnsley looking to extend an unbeaten 12-game run at Molineux.

But Zenga said he wouldn't be using the number of new signings as an excuse for results not being perfect at the moment. Indeed, he's delighted with the options he has.

"We have to introduce the new players – we know it's difficult, but not impossible," he said. "We have to work without looking for excuses. We arrive on August 1 and after five days the season started.

"Other clubs and coaches have had the time to prepare looking at what they have to do.

"The job we did in August should be done in June or July, and at the same time the season starts, do you understand how difficult it is for us? But thanks to the players and the club we're working in the right way and now with this new squad we have another month with seven games to introduce the new players.

"We want a big squad, because we have seven games in 20 days and a long season... from now to January there are 27 games. It's important to have a big squad."

The likes of Romain Saiss, Silvio, Kortney Hause, Ola John and George Saville - all currently injury-free - didn't even make the matchday 18 for Saturday's Burton draw, showing just how many options Zenga currently has available to him, even before players like Nouha Dicko, Lee Evans and Jordan Graham return from injury.

The Italian has made no secret that he plans to rotate his players throughout the season.

But does he envisage it will be difficult to keep the squad - which when fully-fit numbers 28 first-team players - happy and motivated?

Zenga said: "In my opinion the players have signed the contract to be inside the squad.

"It's not in their contract that they have to play 100 per cent of the games.

"The competition between the players gives the training more quality, more intensity. Then I'm a coach and have to choose the starting XI.

"A big squad is interesting. I'm going to look inside, understand very well the particular character and quality of a player.

"I don't want to be boring but I repeat we have time now to introduce some players and the only way to see something is in a game, not the training. Fortunately for us there are games!

"We have to take some risks, of course, but on Saturday it was in my opinion a nice answer from everybody, except the first 20 minutes.

"I start with five new players inside the 11 and they were all in the left compartment of the team. Some of them, like (Cameron) Borthwick-Jackson, are very young and emotional, this is normal.

"But as a coach I take this risk, I take the courage to make this decision because I want to push my team to do the best to arrive where we want to arrive."

Eight of the 12 players who've signed for the club since Fosun's takeover in late July are aged 24 or younger.

Wolves regularly fielded one of the youngest XIs in the Championship last season as well.

Zenga believes the returning Richard Stearman, now aged 29, could be a key signing for the side alongside the young stars.

And it's a team he wants to see – as a fan would – play with passion.

"We have a very young squad. Helder, Cavaleiro, Teixeira, or even Price and Coady for example – they're not old," Zenga added.

"We try to introduce someone with experience, with a strong mentality who can help everybody to stay concentrated.

"The most important thing in my view is to create enthusiasm inside the club, with the fans.

"We all have a team that we love. Me, as a fan, when I watch my team Inter Milan, I want to see the players running and fighting for 90 minutes. And try everything to do their best.

"In this case I can accept everything. But if I see the team not playing with heart, courage and passion, I don't like it.

"I try to transmit this to my players. And to the fans."