In an interview with The Guardian, Trippier spoke about his experiences playing for Atletico Madrid and Newcastle United, and also shared his thoughts on the England vs. Argentina match at this World Cup.

When the inevitable question came up, Trippier was happy to set the record straight. Fresh from training, dressed head-to-toe in Wolves gear – training vest, shorts, and club-crested sliders – he walked into a suite at the Compton Park training ground. The conversation quickly turned to the shocking event that bewildered fans and outsiders alike: just three days after he signed, manager Edwards, whom Trippier saw as the key reason he was willing to join a Championship club, was sacked. Meanwhile, the club was already fast-tracking the appointment of his successor, César Peixoto.

"I'm not going to lie here, I absolutely didn't expect that to happen," Trippier said. "But that's the club's decision. I obviously had good conversations with Rob, but I came here to play for Wolves. Football is full of surprises, and that was certainly a big one, I won't deny that. But I still move forward. At the time, I was on holiday with my kids, training in Mallorca, just looking forward to the first day of pre-season training."

After this bombshell news broke, various rumors followed. "I saw all those reports: saying I wanted to tear up my contract, and all sorts of nonsense. I was fully expecting to report back to Wolves. Honestly, I have no idea where that idea came from, that I wanted to tear up my contract. That absolutely did not come from me, otherwise you would have heard about it from me, that's how I operate."

This statement also fits Trippier's frank and straightforward personality, a quality that makes him popular wherever he goes. At the end of last season, he left Newcastle United; under Howe, he was a key figure in the team's rise, with the highlight being winning the Carabao Cup last year. Before that, he played for Atletico Madrid for three seasons under Diego Simeone, winning La Liga; and even before that, he spent four years with Tottenham under Pochettino, reaching the Champions League final. He has represented England in four major international tournaments and played every minute of the Euro 2024 final.

Now, 12 years later, Trippier is once again playing in the Championship, having last played at this level when he was promoted with Burnley. On Friday, he is set to make his Championship debut for Wolves against Blackburn. He knows that such a career change is unusual. Last September he was playing Barcelona at St James' Park, and now in October he'll be facing Bolton at Molineux.

"I'm not ashamed to play in the Championship, after all, I've played here for many years," Trippier recalled his first experience in the Championship, as a teenager at Barnsley, partnering with Darren Moore in defense. "I had good talks with Howe and Newcastle's sporting director Ross Wilson, and after the season I decided I wanted to try a new challenge. Several clubs made offers, but for me, being closer to my children was a very important consideration."

Trippier considers Manchester his home, and he understands the harshness of the Championship. He remembers Burnley beating Wolves 2-1 in the penultimate round of the 2012-13 season, a victory that completely removed Burnley's relegation worries and almost pushed Wolves into League One. "I've been talking to my teammates, most of whom haven't played in the Championship. So my experienced teammates and I have to help them understand that this path will be full of thorns."

"I told them: this league schedule is breathlessly tight, and it's absolutely true... It's completely different from the Premier League. An away game against Lincoln City will be a tough one. But the lads are all willing to listen to my advice, like Tommy Doyle and Adam Armstrong. Everyone will be ready."

This is Trippier's first interview since signing a two-year contract with Wolves (with an option for a one-year extension). Before signing, he was on holiday in Turkey, and he sounded out Doyle, Johnstone, and others to understand "the true situation within the club." Edwards' sudden dismissal is worth discussing: just a month prior, André had confirmed he was staying; after Trippier's arrival brought a positive atmosphere, Edwards was sacked just 48 hours after Jiménez's return. In addition, the full-back also discussed many other topics, including Howe's departure after four and a half years in charge.

"Howe helped the team secure its Premier League status, led them to the Champions League twice, and won a trophy. But his most important achievement was reconnecting the fans and the team. Before the Saudi takeover, I heard the club was in a bad situation: fans and owners, and the board, were at odds. After the new owners came in, he, as manager, brought everyone together, just like Southgate did for the England national team."

So, does Howe's achievement warrant a statue? "Well, he won a trophy, didn't he?" Trippier responded with a smile, "But that's not for me to judge... The trophy parade was unforgettable, with huge banners of the manager, showing the fans' past and present affection for him. When I first went to Newcastle, the team was in a difficult situation, especially after losing to Cambridge United in the FA Cup third round. But perhaps that was a good thing, allowing us to focus all our energy on staying in the Premier League... There's no doubt he'll be written into the club's history. I was very sad to see him leave."

The conversation then turned to England's semi-final defeat to Argentina at the World Cup, where the team's low block defense collapsed in the final moments of the game. "Playing under Simeone, I've experienced similar situations countless times. I could name thirty such games where we withstood the pressure and held onto the result, that's typical Simeone. He's a master of the game, adept at holding onto a win. Tuchel has also been in this situation countless times, leading Chelsea to win the Champions League, and delivering extremely impressive results at Bayern... It's just that this time we couldn't do it. Our opponent was one of the greatest players of all time, he can change the game in an instant." Trippier said, snapping his fingers, speaking of Messi, "I've played against him many times, he can be anonymous for sixty minutes, but then suddenly score a hat-trick. That's his unique magic."

Peixoto is still largely unknown to most, but Trippier said he knew his resume before the 46-year-old Portuguese, who coached Gil Vicente last season, replaced Edwards. Peixoto is fluent in English, so Trippier doesn't even need to use Spanish to communicate with him. "When I was in Madrid, when the postman came, I'd ask my son to open the door, he speaks fluent Spanish," Trippier said with a laugh.

So what kind of person is Peixoto? "Extremely demanding, and honest. Training sessions are full-on, and his style is intense, in a good way. He demands a lot from his players, and if we want to succeed, that's exactly what we need. He has the same high standards as Pochettino and Simeone. He has his rules: don't betray his trust, don't be late. Let's just say, I wouldn't want to upset him."

Trippier will turn 36 in September. Matheus Mané is a highly-rated young star at Wolves, half Trippier's age. Last season, when Trippier played for Newcastle, he directly faced the youngster on the field. "My physical condition is very good, probably the best it's been in recent years. I'm not as fast as I used to be, but I always believe my mind and game intelligence are still there." Trippier tapped his temple, "I feel like I can play for many more years."

Signing Trippier is a major coup for Wolves. "It's a bit like when I left Atletico Madrid to join Newcastle... There was an uproar at the time, but throughout my entire career, I've never regretted the choices I've made."

Trippier is now a member of the core leadership group established by Peixoto, and he knows that the entire team will be a target when the new season starts. "In the Championship opener against Blackburn, all eyes will be on us," he said.

"Any team relegated from the Premier League, every opponent wants to beat you. Wolves had a very difficult season last season, but the new season is a fresh start, like starting from scratch. The reality is we are now in the Championship, and we must forget about last season, look forward, and stay positive. Our goal must be to get straight back into the Premier League."

AF's PC site is now live! Browse full news, comments, match details and stats on your computer. Visit: www.allfootballapp.com