Mario Lemina has been relieved of his captaincy duties following a post-match altercation with West Ham's Jarrod Bowen. The incident occurred after Wolves' 2-1 defeat at the London Stadium, where tensions flared as Lemina wrestled Bowen to the ground during what was supposed to be a routine handshake.
The fallout from this scuffle has led Wolves manager Gary O'Neil to appoint Nelson Semedo as the new team captain. Despite the change in leadership, O'Neil emphasized that Lemina remains a crucial part of the squad. "The discussions with Mario were good. We get on very, very well," O'Neil stated, highlighting the mutual respect between him and Lemina. He added, "He's been a big part of what we've been able to do here."
This decision comes at a critical juncture for Wolves, who are gearing up for an important clash against Ipswich. The team is currently grappling with several challenges, including suspensions and injuries affecting key players like Joao Gomes, Jose Sa, and Pablo Sarabia. Long-term absentees such as Yerson Mosquera, Sasa Kalajdzic, Enzo Gonzalez, and Bouba Traore further compound these issues.
O'Neil expressed confidence in the team's ability to adapt, stating, "The most important thing is us getting the best out of everybody - getting the best out of Mario Lemina week in, week out, the same for Nelson and the rest of the group." He assured fans that the focus remains on the upcoming match, with all players, including Lemina and Semedo, ready to contribute.
The change in captaincy is seen as a move to stabilize the team and maintain focus amidst these challenges.
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