Last season’s top scorer
Center forward Raúl Jiménez was the top scorer at Wolverhampton Wanderers last season with 10 goals involved, but the 31-year-old has only made three appearances this season due to injury and has not been available to the bottom of the Premier League table since August. Nevertheless, coach Gerardo Martino called up the 96-times international for Mexico to the World Cup squad of “El Tri” during the week. Julen Lopetegui, who will take over from interim coach Steve Davis at Wolves after the tournament, does not agree with the long-term absentee’s decision to represent his country in Qatar.
In a long conversation with the offensive powerhouse, the Spaniard urged that he refrain from participating in the World Cup and instead continue his rehabilitation in the Midlands. “He’s not fit at the moment because he’s injured and he hasn’t played a minute for two or three months – two or three very important months. Of course I understand that players want to go to the World Cup. I understand that the country is putting pressure on her to leave,” Lopetegui said in the English “Timesquoted. “But in the end you have to be able to play well and you have to show that in your club team. That’s my impression, that’s my thought. But he decided to leave. Mexico decided to call him. But of course I gave him that responsibility. Because I want him to be fit for us when he comes back. Of course I’m worried about that because Raúl is definitely an important player for us,” the 56-year-old continued.
In the second half of the Premier League, Lopetegui faces the difficult task of leading what is by far the weakest attacking team in the league, with just eight goals in 15 games, to stay up in the league – and in doing so is building on last season’s top performers. The nomination of Jiménez for last week’s friendly against Iraq, in which Martino called the striker into the squad despite his lack of fitness but left him on the bench, had caused resentment in Wolverhampton. Because at the same time as the international match, the “Wolves” fought in the EFL Cup against Leeds United for entry into the next round.
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“It’s his decision,” continued Lopetegui, who confirmed that he had given his protégé his opinion on it: “I respect his decision very much, but I have a duty to show him what I think about this situation.” The coach now hopes that the World Cup could also mean a return to old form for the attacker through regular appearances: “Of course I would be happier if he would work with us for another month. But it’s possible that he’s fit, playing very well and coming back stronger. I think he’s not at the right point to be fit yet and it’s better to complete his rehabilitation process with us. But I understand that it is his decision and his right.”
The first betting match day kicks off with the opening game between Qatar and Ecuador on Sunday, November 20 (5 p.m.). Click here for the TM betting round!
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