AliousWolves suffered a disappointing defeat against Fulham in their latest Premier League outing, with one player enduring a particularly tough night at the back.
Following a confidence-boosting victory over Bournemouth, Wolves entered the match hoping to build on their momentum. However, they were given a harsh reality check almost immediately, as Ryan Sessegnon found the net within the opening minute.
Joao Gomes managed to pull Wolves level after a well-worked move down the left involving Rayan Ait-Nouri and Jean-Ricner Bellegarde. But their hard work was undone almost instantly after halftime, conceding again—a moment that surely left manager Vitor Pereira frustrated.
### **Santiago Bueno’s Struggles Against Fulham**
While several Wolves players underperformed, center-back Santiago Bueno had an especially difficult night. With Emmanuel Agbadou sidelined due to injury, Bueno was once again given a starting role in the back three alongside Matt Doherty and Toti Gomes.
Wolves had shown defensive improvement in recent weeks, but Bueno’s performance against Fulham was far from convincing—just as it had been in their recent clash with Blackburn Rovers.
According to Sofascore statistics, the Uruguayan defender won only **two of his eight duels** and completed just four defensive actions. While his passing accuracy was an impressive **98% (44/45 completed passes)**, the majority of these were simple, sideways passes that failed to break through Fulham’s defensive structure.
His struggles were further highlighted when he received a first-half yellow card for a foul on Rodrigo Muniz. This booking forced him to play cautiously for the remainder of the game, making it even harder for him to handle Fulham’s physical attackers. Bueno was outmuscled too easily for Fulham’s opener and completely lost his man on their second goal, further exposing his defensive vulnerabilities.
### **Should Pereira Drop Bueno for Nasser Djiga?**
Bueno, who arrived from Girona in a **£8.5 million** transfer in the summer of 2023 (BBC Sport), remains a divisive figure among Wolves fans. While he is composed on the ball, his lack of pace, physicality, and athleticism continues to be a concern.
Wolves’ recent defensive frailties suggest it may be time for Pereira to consider a change, and new signing **Nasser Djiga** could be the answer. Despite being young and inexperienced in the Premier League, Djiga has Champions League experience with Red Star Belgrade and possesses the physical traits Wolves desperately need at the back.
Djiga has previously described himself as a **”very aggressive player”** who is **”strong in duels and comfortable on the ball.”** This kind of defensive presence could be exactly what Wolves are missing.
With crucial games against Bournemouth in the FA Cup and Everton in the Premier League approaching—both of which could see Wolves come up against physical forwards like Dango Ouattara and Beto—sticking with Bueno may be a risk Wolves cannot afford to take.
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