Wolves’ Matt Doherty Slams Rob Edwards: ‘He Has a Losers’ Mentality’ as Dressing-Room Erupts Amid Winless Streak

Wolverhampton Wanderers are embroiled in a crisis few could have predicted at the start of the 2025/26 Premier League season. Manager Rob Edwards has yet to register a single victory since taking over, leaving Wolves rooted to the bottom of the table with just two points from 17 games, 14 adrift of safety. Frustration has mounted in the dressing room, where senior players are reportedly questioning the team’s mentality, tactics, and the manager’s ability to inspire a turnaround.

Among the most outspoken voices is Matt Doherty, a senior defender and influential member of Wolves’ leadership group. After the club’s 2–0 home defeat to Brentford, Doherty reportedly told sources that the team was struggling under a “losers’ mentality”, directly criticising Edwards’ approach and highlighting growing tensions within the squad. His comments have cast a spotlight on a dressing room struggling to cope with a record-equalling winless start to a Premier League season.

A Winless Run That Defies Expectations

The scale of Wolves’ struggles this season is staggering. Following 17 matches without a win, the team now equals the longest winless opening in Premier League history, a record Wolves share with only a handful of clubs across the league’s modern era. A team that began the season with hope now faces the grim reality of bottom-place football, with fans, pundits, and players alike expressing doubts about the club’s direction and leadership. (premierleague.com)

While Edwards remains adamant that there is still fight left in the squad, the numbers speak for themselves: Wolves have struggled to score consistently, with attacking output hampered by a lack of cohesion and confidence. Defensive frailties have compounded the problem, leaving the team exposed and increasingly demoralised.

Doherty: A Voice of Leadership Amid Chaos

As a senior figure, Doherty has emerged as a central voice in the dressing room, trying to galvanise his teammates amid the mounting crisis. “You cannot go out there and play scared,” Doherty reportedly said following the Brentford defeat. “If we want to change this season, everyone has to step up, take responsibility, and fight for the club.”

Doherty’s leadership is particularly crucial given the struggles of younger squad members. Players such as Rodrigo Gomes and Jhon Arias, expected to provide energy and attacking spark, have found it difficult to influence matches consistently. Doherty, along with other experienced players, has repeatedly urged the team to show resilience, commitment, and self-belief in order to halt a slide that threatens relegation.

Squad Struggles Across the Pitch

Wolves’ problems are not limited to a lack of mentality. Midfielders João Gomes, Jean-Ricner Bellegarde, and Marshall Munetsi have battled tirelessly but often been overrun in the engine room, leaving Wolves unable to dominate possession or control games. Their efforts, while commendable, have not been sufficient to change the outcome in key moments.

In defence, Emmanuel Agbadou and Toti Gomes have been tasked with holding the line in a backline that has frequently appeared disorganised and vulnerable. Despite Doherty’s efforts to marshal the defence, Wolves have struggled to prevent conceding crucial goals, particularly in the second half of matches, where lapses in concentration have proved costly.

Up front, Jørgen Strand Larsen has shouldered the responsibility of leading the attack, but chances have been few and far between. The team’s inability to convert opportunities into goals has frustrated supporters and increased the pressure on both forwards and midfielders to deliver results in an unforgiving league.

Off-Field Instability Adds to Woes

Off the pitch, Wolves’ troubles have been compounded by administrative turbulence. The resignation of executive chairman Jeff Shi and the temporary appointment of Nathan Shi have added uncertainty to a club already grappling with poor results. Fans have voiced their displeasure with chants, banners, and social media campaigns, targeting both management and ownership for perceived failures in recruitment, tactical decisions, and overall club strategy.

This instability has, according to insiders, filtered down to the squad. The combination of leadership changes, a mounting loss streak, and a palpable fear of failure has contributed to the sense of a dressing room under siege, where doubts about mentality and belief have become as damaging as on-field mistakes.

Edwards Calls for Unity  But Time Is Running Out

Despite the grim circumstances, Edwards insists there is still belief within the squad. Following the Brentford defeat, he emphasised the need for unity and effort, calling on experienced players like Doherty to lead by example: “We must stick together, keep working, and show resilience. There is still fight in this squad if everyone gives their all.”

Yet with no wins since his appointment, internal tensions growing, and a fanbase increasingly vocal in its dissatisfaction, the manager faces a monumental task. Wolves’ fate this season may depend as much on the leadership of senior players like Matt Doherty as on Edwards’ tactical decisions, with the shadow of relegation looming larger with each passing week.