'It's a new era, the past is the past' - Peixoto

Wolves head coach Cesar Peixoto says his squad are looking to the future and not scarred by the past few seasons of struggle at Molineux.

Peixoto, who replaced Rob Edwards last month, inherited a squad that finished bottom of the Premier League last season with just three wins.

But after beating La Liga side Racing Santander 3-0 in their final pre-season friendly on Saturday, the Portuguese coach insisted confidence has returned.

“It’s a new era,” he told BBC Radio WM. “The past is the past, so now we are going to build a present and a future for the club.

“The players are committed to our idea of the game, our way of working and we believe in that, we believe we are going to do a good season, good work and the players try to feel the confidence.”

It is the 46-year-old’s first senior coaching role outside of his native Portugal, having guided Gil Vicente to sixth-place finish in the Primeira Liga last season.

He has called for his Wolves team to be organised and attacking, and believes the squad are adapting to his methods.

Wolves begin their season on Friday with an EFL Cup tie against League Two side Port Vale before opening their Championship campaign seven days later at home to Blackburn.

“Since the first moment I talked with them and trained with them, all the players work very hard to try and do all I want from them,” Peixoto said.

“The team has started to grow up physically and tactically and understand the game.

“We stay at a good level but we have to improve more and more.”

Wolves brought striker Raul Jimenez back to Molineux and also recruited full-back Kieran Trippier before Edwards was sacked. Winger Rafiki Said is the only signing since Peixoto’s arrival.

But Peixoto expects more transfer activity before the window closes on 1 September and said he knows what areas of the squad need strengthening.

“Things are going to happen,” he said. “There are delays because of the World Cup [but] we know what we need, we know what we are doing,” he said.

“At the moment it is the players I have to work with and I’m happy with them. The team works well, works hard and has a good spirit.

“It’s important to look at these players and find the solutions we want to improve the team, but I am happy with these players.”