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Although Pereira was full of praise for Mateus Mane, the youngster did not make a single appearance for Wolves before the Portuguese coach was dismissed on November 2, following a dismal start to the 2025–26 campaign. Mane finally got his first minutes of the season under interim coach Jamie Collins in a clash against Chelsea. His real breakthrough, however, came under Pereira’s permanent successor, Rob Edwards, who handed the teenager his first start at Anfield on December 27.
Mane recalled the moment vividly: “I found out the day before in a meeting that I was playing—I was buzzing,” he said. “I told my family, then felt confident. At first, there were a lot of nerves, but then after a bit you realise this is where you want to play, where you want to be. I feel like I deserved it with my hard work in training and when I’ve come on the pitch every game. I just kept working with my head down, I kept working and working, then the new manager came in and trusted me, and now I’m getting what I deserved—game time.”
Edwards kept faith in him just three days later at another iconic venue, Old Trafford. Mane delivered an impressive performance, arguably the best on the pitch, as Wolves secured only their third point of the season by holding Manchester United to a 1–1 draw.
The following week, Mane played a pivotal role once again, guiding the Premier League’s bottom side to their first victory of the campaign. He won a penalty and then scored his first senior goal in a 3–0 triumph over West Ham at Molineux.
“We found him a lot in between the lines, and he was able to create,” Edwards said afterwards. “I thought his energy was brilliant, his running was brilliant, he took risks, he had shots, he dribbled, he turned and played forward... just a real shining light.”