Wolves boss Nuno hits back at claims Uefa have favoured his side by appointing Portuguese officials
NUNO ESPIRITO SANTO has hit back at claims Uefa has favoured Wolves by appointing an all PORTUGUESE refereeing team for Thursday's Europa League qualifier in Turin.
The Italians are incensed Artur Soares Dias and his fellow Portuguese assistants Rui Tavares and Paulo Soares will take charge of a tie involving a club with SEVEN Portuguese players – four of whom are sure to start.
Torino are seething that Rui Patricio, Ruben Neves, Joao Moutinho and Diogo Jota are Portuguese internationals with massive reputations who can converse with Dias in his native tongue on the pitch.
Meanwhile, Nuno plus six of his backroom staff - including Scottish No.2 Ian Cathro - are also fluent in Portuguese, allowing them to bend the ear of fourth official Joao Pinheiro without the Italians knowing what they are on about.
One local paper even suggested Portuguese super-agent Jorge Mendes may have influenced the controversial appointment, describing him as “the most powerful agent in the world".
However Nuno has told the Italians to drop their conspiracy theories, get on with the game – and claimed he’s flying the flag for England!
Unfortunately Traore failed to make the epic 6,370 round-trip to Yerevan after he forgot his PASSPORT and was turned away at the departure gate!
“I did have a little problem in the last round,” Traore sheepishly confessed as he looked forward to making amends.
“Whenever there is a problem outside of the pitch I have to speak to the boss about it – and as he is alright with it, it is okay for me.
“If he had a problem with my error he would say it to me, so it’s not a problem now and I’m working to improve - inside and outside of the pitch.
"I really want to play in Europe. I’ve never played in Italy before so this will be the first time for me and I’m looking forward to the experience.”