Gary O’Neil feels he’s ‘a better coach than last year’ as Wolves pressure mounts

Gary O’Neil insists he is a better manager than last season as he battles to keep his job at Wolves.

O’Neil’s position looks increasingly precarious after a third straight defeat, 2-1 at West Ham, left Wolves second from bottom in the Premier League and four points from safety.

The 41-year-old was appointed in August last year to replace Julen Lopetegui, who himself is under pressure as the current Hammers boss.

Wolves finished last season well clear of relegation, but O’Neil pointed to the financial constraints he has been working under, not least in selling captain Max Kilman to Monday’s opponents for £40million.

“I understand the noise and the scrutiny, but when I arrived at this football club, it had just achieved 39 points in the Premier League,” he said.

“Since then, we’ve managed to sell £200m worth of talent. If you start at 39 and you take away £200m worth of talent, there’s a fair chance that it’s going to be tough.

“We were tipped to be relegated by every pundit in the country pretty much last season and we achieved some unbelievable things.

“More points, wins away at Stamford Bridge and Tottenham, Man City at home, Tottenham at home, to the brink of an FA Cup semi-final, with a group that had lost Ruben Neves, Joao Moutinho, Adama Traore, Raul Jimenez, Nathan Collins, Daniel Podence, and hadn’t signed any Premier League players at that moment.

“Then this summer we lose our captain, Max Kilman, and Pedro Neto for a combined £100m and we sign a load of young lads, who’ll be great for the club in the future. So that is where the football club is.

“I’m confident we can turn it around. While we have this togetherness, I’m always confident we can find a way.

“It’s not my decision but I know I’m a better coach than I was last year. I’ve learnt an awful lot.

“We lack quality at times. But all I can ask the group is to be the best version of themselves. I know I can get the best out of this group.”

Goals from Tomas Soucek and Jarrod Bowen, either side of Matt Doherty’s equaliser, eased some of the pressure on Lopetegui following back-to-back defeats.

It was an emotional night at the London Stadium as West Ham showed their support for striker Michail Antonio, who faces weeks in hospital recovering after a serious car crash at the weekend.

The players wore ‘Antonio 9’ shirts and tracksuit tops before kick-off, and their signed match shirts and pre-match jackets are being auctioned off.

The auction has already raised in excess of £20,000, with the proceeds going to the NHS and Air Ambulances UK.

Lopetegui said: “I am happy for the players to have the possibility to dedicate this victory to Mick and his family. They deserve this.”