Cesar Peixoto has sensationally revealed that he is under pressure from the Wolves board to keep playing one of his players for a minimum of 50 minutes every Championship match despite the striker’s alarming dip in form since Peixoto took over as manager.
And in a stunning admission, Peixoto claims the situation is no longer in his control.
PEIXOTO: “THE NUMBERS DO NOT LIE”
Speaking after Wolves’ 3-1 defeat at Molineux to Bolton Wanderers a match in which Armstrong started but offered almost nothing Peixoto admitted his frustration with the situation.
“He plays. Everyone sees him on the pitch. But I don’t see him out there. I don’t see him in the training ground, I don’t see him in the analysis, but I have to put him on the pitch. This is the reality I am dealing with. There is pressure from above to give him 50 minutes, minimum, every game.”
“Since I took over this club, the numbers are not there. One goal in eight games. The numbers do not lie. But the decision is not only mine.”
Peixoto was careful to stress that his frustration is not with the player himself, but with the interference in his management.
“Don’t get me wrong. He is one of my most important players. I value him. I respect him. He has qualities that this squad needs. But compelling me to play him for a designated amount of time when for sure I know what is best for him and for the team that is where the problem is.”
“I know when he should play. I know when he should rest. I know when he should come off the bench. That is my job. When someone else decides the minutes, the player suffers, the team suffers, and I suffer. Nobody wins.”
“IF THE CLUB HAD ALLOWED ME, I COULD MANAGE HIM PROPERLY”
Peixoto went further, insisting that if he had full control, he would know exactly how to handle Armstrong’s minutes and everyone else’s.
“If the club had allowed me, I could manage the players well. I know how many minutes are suitable for Adam. I know how many minutes are suitable for the others. That is my job. That is what I was brought here to do.”
“I am not asking for anything special. I am asking to do my job. If I can manage the minutes, I can manage the player. If I cannot manage the minutes, then I cannot manage the player. It is simple.”
“MY HANDS ARE TIED”
The Wolves head coach, known for his intense, demanding approach, hinted that the decision is not his own.
“My job is to win matches. I pick the players who give us the best chance. But sometimes the decisions are not only mine. I have to manage many things the dressing room, the board, the expectations. It is not easy.”
“I have to respect the decisions of the club. But I am the coach. I see the training. I see the data. And I know what the team needs. Right now, what the team needs is not always what the board wants.”
“Since I took over, the level has not been there. I watch every match back. I watch every training session. I know what I am seeing. But my hands are tied on this one.”
“THEY SEE THE PRICE TAG, I SEE THE LEGS”
Sources close to the club suggest the board views Armstrong as a key commercial and dressing-room asset a £9m deadline-day signing they pushed for, and a popular figure whose continued presence in the starting XI is necessary to justify their investment.
“The club sees something different to what I see on the pitch,” Peixoto said. “They see the price tag, the connection with the supporters, the marketing. I see the tactics, the shape, the intensity. These two things do not always match.”
“SUPPORTERS LOVE HIM BUT FOOTBALL IS ABOUT NOW”
Armstrong has been a popular figure at Molineux since his arrival from Southampton, with supporters appreciating his work rate and commitment. But his statistics since Peixoto’s arrival paint a grim picture just one goal in eight games, and a string of below-par displays that have coincided with Wolves’ inconsistent form under the new manager.
Against Bolton, Wolves dominated possession with 61.3% of the ball and registered 19 shots, yet Armstrong was part of an attack that struggled to turn that dominance into clear chances, managing only three shots on target all evening. It was another performance that raised fresh questions about his place in the side.
“The supporters love him. I understand that. He has given them moments. But football is about now. It is about the next match. And right now, I need players who are ready to give everything for 90 minutes.”
Wolves supporters have been divided. Some argue Armstrong deserves patience, pointing to his loyalty and connection with the fanbase. Others believe sentiment is costing the team points, and that Peixoto should have full control over selection.
Peixoto, meanwhile, appears caught between his footballing instincts and the demands of his employers a position no manager wants to be in, especially with a squad fighting for consistency in the Championship.
