Wolves boss Nuno: It was a special day
Wolves boss Nuno Espirito Santo was delighted to kick off his tenure at the club with three points against Middlesbrough at Molineux.
Debutant Leo Bonatini was the match-winner in the first half as Wolves made the perfect start to their Championship campaign against promotion favourites Boro.
Nuno felt Wolves were good value for the win – but believes there's plenty more to come from his team.
"It was a tough game but a good game," he said. "We played a very good first half and controlled the game. This is the way we should play – be the team we were in the first half, and progress in the second half, to not suffer too much.
"I think it's three points we deserved. The boys worked well. Tomorrow is another day.
"We were ready but we're still not the final product. Every game is going to be better. This is what we want from the boys, always progress and make it better.
"We're all learning and every day is a chance to learn. When you have the ball you must know what you do – possession is our idea but always know to push the other team.
"We were organised and controlled the middle of the pitch."
Bonatini only signed on loan from Al Hilal on Monday but was thrown in from the start and rewarded his new boss with the winner on 33 minutes, taking Boro defender Daniel Ayala's awful pass and clinically beating keeper Darren Randolph.
Nuno said of the Brazilian: "Bonatini did a good job. He linked the game, dropped, combined and scored his goal.
"We're building up his fitness and must take care of that. He has less weeks to work than the rest.
He gave us a good 55 minutes (before being substituted). He'll progress physically and better understand his team mates.
"We have options – it's about the squad, not the individual or the team."
Nuno's name was sung loudly by the home fans in a sell-out crowd of 29,692 – the fourth highest attendance since Molineux's redevelopment in the early 1990s.
"It was fantastic to be at Molineux," the boss added. "Today was a special day for all of us.
"We have to thank them and we want to build this engagement between the team and the fans. Molineux is going to be a very difficult place for our opponents.
"Molineux is our pack – thank you to the support of the fans. This is what we ask and we'll give back on the pitch with our effort."
