Wolves boss Julen Lopetegui says that his team and Nottingham Forest need to show "respect" for one another ahead of Saturday's game.
Both clubs were charged by the Football Association for a melee which broke out at the end of the EFL Cup tie in January. Lopetegui was branded “unprofessional” by the FA after the written report into the post-match clashes with the Reds was published earlier this month.
The report concluded that Wolves bore a "higher responsibility for the mass confrontation", with Lopetegui criticised for confronting ex-Wolves midfielder Morgan Gibbs-White. "It was the extremely ill-judged action and timing of Julen Lopetegui approaching Morgan Gibbs-White to remonstrate with him that was the catalyst for what followed,” it said.
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Wolves were fined £45,000 and Forest £40,000 for the unseemly scenes. But Lopetegui says he will keep his emotions in check as they prepare for a massive game for both sides.
“Maybe you can show these type of emotions and react and all us can do better, for sure. It’s not just about us, but each team in each moment as well," the Spaniard said.
"In the end, the most important thing is to respect the referee, respect the opponent, always. Each one of us chooses which way to live our life and do our job, of course.
“All of us can improve, for sure, me too. But it’s important to be yourself – always on the pitch, and as coaches off it, while respecting the opponent.
“I must manage or translate my feelings – that’s always my thinking, because it’s better for my team. Maybe all of us can do better for sure.”
There is only one point separating Forest and Wolves in the Premier League table, with both sides sitting precariously above the relegation zone.
“It’s about getting points, to get points you have to do a lot in a good way,” Lopetegui said. “You have to compete well, defend well, attack well and have a big demand and focus in each moment. In the end it’s going to be about the points.
“We’re aware of what kind of match we’re going to find. Any little detail is very important, the team must manage this kind of situation.”
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