Adama Traore insists he is happy to take the kicks as long as it helps Wolves progress in the Europa League. The 23-year-old put in a man of the match performance as Nuno Espirito Santo’s men secured a 3-2 first-leg victory over Torino in their Europa League qualifying play-off first-leg.
The sides will do it all again at Molineux on Thursday, with a spot in the group stage up for grabs. The Italians found it tough to cope with the winger’s pace at Stadio Olimpico Grande Torino and three of the home players went into the referee’s notebook for fouling the former Spain Under-21 ace.
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For Traore, it is all part and parcel of playing the sport and he feels it now gives his side advantage for the second leg later this week. “It’s true I was fouled, and when I got to the dressing room, the other players said I had got three players booked,” he said.
“A yellow card makes players nervous because you don’t play the same afterwards. “I am happy about that and will do anything I can to be the best and help the team. I know defenders will try to kick me, so most of the time I jump. This is what I do before they try to kick me. It is not a problem.”
Wolves are now favourites to progress to the group stage after last week’s excellent display in Turin and Traore looks set to play a big part in the return match in front of a packed house in the West Midlands.
Focus will then switch to Sunday’s trip to Goodison Park to take on Everton as Nuno looks for his first Premier League win of the campaign after three consecutive draws.
Traore is just happy to play his part in whatever competition the club is involved in and feels he is progressing game by game. “Every experience is good for me, whether it’s Premier League or Europa League or whatever,” he added. “It will make me a better player.”
Although winless domestically, the boss seems calm about the situation, with his charges having taken a point away at Leicester City while they secured a 1-1 draw at home to Manchester United.
Last Sunday’s opponents Burnley struggled in the league during their unsuccessful run in last season’s Europa League qualifiers but Wolves are making a decent fist of both competitions at present.
