Express & Star

Raul Jimenez calls on Wolves fans to play their part

Raul Jimenez hopes the fans enjoyed their Christmas and return to Molineux tonight to help Wolves do the double over Manchester City.

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Jimenez grabbed the winner in Wolves’ 2-1 comeback win at Norwich on Saturday.

And he hailed the fans’ support for him and for helping the whole team roar back at Carrow Road, as he called for more of the same tonight.

He said: “I really enjoy that (the singing).

“Even if I don’t score, even if I don’t have a really good game, they are always supporting me and the team.

“That makes us feel so confident to keep going and improving.

“I hope they enjoyed it (Christmas) with their families.”

“I hope they have a merry Christmas and a happy Christmas and keep going Wolves.”

An Adama Traore double sank champions City on their home turf at the Etihad in October.

Since then, Wolves have booked a place in the last 32 of the Europa League and are sixth in the Premier League, 11 points behind Pep Guardiola’s side.

And Jimenez says that win in Manchester has filled them with confidence.

He said: “Yeah (the win at Man City gives us confidence going into the game). It is always special to have games against these kind of teams. We are in our home and I think we can win that game.

“There is a good chance for us to take some points in difficult matches.

“But we know we have the challenge and good players for that kind of thing.”

With a trip to Premier League leaders Liverpool less than 48 hours later on Sunday, Jimenez has his eyes on breaking into the top four.

He said: “I think since the beginning of the season we have shown the Premier League and the world that we can do it.

“We are playing very well, but now we have to play well and get the wins. We have to keep doing that. We are not far from fourth place, but we know if we can continue like this we can achieve it.”

Wolves have lost just one in 13 league games going into this clash.

Mexican forward Jimenez is expected to lead the line in Nuno Espirito Santo’s favoured 3-4-3 formation, in what is expected to be an unchanged side.

The Wolves boss is anticipated to name an unchanged side, though Pedro Neto is pushing for a start after his role in Jimenez’s 16th effort of the season.

The Wolves striker is in the form of his career. And he says keeping the faith has been the key to racking up the goals in England.

The ex-Atletico Madrid and Benfica man said: “I keep working and never lose the faith. I spent three years at Benfica, one year at Atletico Madrid not playing most of the time that I wanted. But I never get back, I always kept wanting more and that is the secret. Keep improving and keep wanting more.”

Jimenez has two more games before the turn of 2020, but he does not have a goal target in mind, just helping Wolves.

He said: “I want to score every game, but I don’t have a target. I’m just trying every game to keep improving and do my best for the team to help them win. The more goals I score, the better for the team.”

Jimenez also has five assists and says he is not bothered who, or how Wolves score, so long as the results rack up.

He said: “I work for it to not only to score goals, but if I can make some movement and make my team-mates score or an assist, it is same as a goal. It all counts.”

“It is the same if I score, Diogo Jota scores or even if (goalkeeper) Rui Patricio scores!”

“I’m happy to be part of the team.”