It is less than 24 hours since Wolves’s defeat to rejuvenated Watford, and at the Compton training ground a message is relayed that João Moutinho might not be in the best of moods.

The masterful midfielder whom the Wolves supporters serenade with “he’s five foot seven, he’s football heaven” is renowned for taking defeat hard, a pure winner whether it be Premier League battles or head-tennis.

There is a certain degree of trepidation when the dressing room door swings open and Moutinho walks in, after a short recovery session on Thursday.

It seems like there is only one place to start. “Yes, it’s true, I absolutely hate losing,” he says. “A lot. Not only football. It’s in me, in my blood and I don’t ever want to lose.

“I can’t play anything just to play. I have to win, whether it is football, golf, padel (a racquet sport) or tennis. If someone comes up against me just to participate, I prefer not to play.

“It is a competition. We need to compete to be better and better every day. I do my best to improve and to beat you.

“That is my spirit, it’s a family thing. It’s the same for my parents and my brothers. I try to pass it on to my daughters [Lara and Victoria] and they don’t like to lose either.”