“They Didn’t Perform Like We Discussed!” — Cesar Peixoto Expresses Frustration After Wolves Draw Blackburn
Wolverhampton Wanderers head coach Cesar Peixoto has admitted he was disappointed with aspects of his team’s performance after Wolves were forced to settle for a dramatic 2-2 draw against Blackburn Rovers in their opening Championship match of the 2026/27 season.
Wolves appeared to be in control during the opening stages at Molineux, with Marshall Munetsi giving the hosts the lead after a promising attacking move. However, Blackburn responded strongly, scoring through Sean McLoughlin before Andri Gudjohnsen put the visitors ahead early in the second half.
Although Raúl Jiménez rescued a point for Wolves with a stoppage-time penalty on his return to the club, Peixoto was clearly unhappy with the way his players lost their structure after Blackburn turned the match around.
The Portuguese coach had wanted his side to remain composed and disciplined, particularly after conceding. Instead, he felt Wolves began playing emotionally rather than following the tactical instructions that had been discussed before kick-off.
“I wanted the three points all the time,” Peixoto said after the match. He explained that Wolves had been the better side during the first half, enjoying possession, creating chances and attacking with greater purpose.
However, the manager acknowledged that everything changed after Blackburn scored their second goal.
Peixoto said his players started “playing more with their hearts than with their heads,” while also losing their organisation. He felt the team stopped pressing at the appropriate moments and struggled to recover possession quickly.
That tactical breakdown became particularly noticeable as Blackburn defended deeper and reduced the space available between the lines. Wolves attempted to move the ball from side to side and deliver crosses, but Peixoto felt they failed to win enough first and second balls.
The manager also called for greater aggression in individual duels, suggesting that his players needed to be smarter and more competitive in key moments.
Despite his frustration, Peixoto refused to view the result entirely negatively. Wolves fought until the final whistle, even amid injuries and difficult circumstances, and Jiménez’s late penalty ensured they avoided an opening-day defeat.
The draw nevertheless leaves Peixoto with plenty to analyse. Wolves are expected to challenge strongly in the Championship following their relegation from the Premier League, making every dropped point potentially significant in the promotion race.
For Peixoto, the immediate priority is ensuring that the mistakes against Blackburn are corrected quickly.
He acknowledged that it was only the first competitive league match of the campaign and that his players are still adapting to his methods. The manager now wants the squad to study the game, understand where the organisation disappeared and work harder on the training ground.
The message from Peixoto is therefore clear: the fight and character were welcome, but Wolves must become more disciplined if they are to achieve their ambitions.
After conceding two goals and needing a last-minute penalty to rescue a point, the new Wolves boss knows there is plenty of work ahead.
