Manchester United suffered a disheartening 2-0 defeat at the hands of Wolves on Boxing Day, further deepening their early-season woes under manager Ruben Amorim. The loss leaves United languishing in 14th place in the Premier League table, a stark contrast to their preseason expectations. Key moments in the match included a goal conceded directly from a corner, a misjudgment by goalkeeper Andre Onana, and a red card shown to captain Bruno Fernandes, all contributing to a dismal performance. The defeat underscored United’s struggles to find consistency and establish a winning rhythm.
Onana’s performance in goal was a major talking point, earning him a rating of 4. While he managed a crucial save in the first half, his misjudgment of Matheus Cunha’s corner kick directly led to Wolves’ opening goal. Onana claimed he was obstructed by Matt Doherty, but his appeal was rejected. This error, coupled with other shaky moments, highlighted the goalkeeper’s vulnerability and raised questions about his command of the penalty area.
United’s defense, while not entirely culpable for the defeat, displayed moments of fragility. Leny Yoro, after an early booking, struggled to contain Wolves’ attacks and was eventually substituted. Harry Maguire and Lisandro Martinez, despite a combined rating of 6, managed to prevent a more lopsided scoreline but were ultimately unable to keep a clean sheet. Maguire contributed with a late header on target, but it proved too little, too late. Martinez offered some crucial interventions, but even his efforts couldn’t prevent Wolves’ late-game counter-attack that sealed the victory.
Midfield struggles further compounded United’s woes. Noussair Mazraoui and Manuel Ugarte, both rated 5, failed to impose themselves on the match, finding it difficult to cope with Wolves’ dynamic midfield. Ugarte was eventually substituted following Fernandes’ red card. Kobbie Mainoo showed early promise but faded after the break and was also substituted. The midfield’s inability to control possession and dictate the tempo hampered United’s attacking efforts.
United’s attacking players also failed to spark. Diogo Dalot forced a save from Jose Sa, but overall, the team’s attacking display was largely ineffectual. Amad Diallo, in contrast to his recent derby heroics, looked anonymous and lacked connection with his teammates. Bruno Fernandes’ frustration boiled over, resulting in a second yellow card and an early exit, further depleting United’s attacking options. Rasmus Hojlund’s frustration with the lack of service was palpable, and he was eventually substituted with ten minutes remaining.
The substitutes brought in by Amorim – Casemiro, Christian Eriksen, and Antony – provided a slight improvement, all earning a rating of 6. However, their efforts were not enough to overturn the deficit, and neither Alejandro Garnacho nor Joshua Zirkzee, who replaced Amad and Hojlund respectively, managed to make a significant impact, both receiving a rating of 5. The overall picture painted a bleak image of a team struggling for form, cohesion, and a clear tactical direction.
The defeat against Wolves exposes deeper issues within the Manchester United squad. The lack of cohesion between the different units, the individual errors, and the apparent lack of a clear game plan are all contributing factors to their current predicament. The pressure mounts on manager Ruben Amorim as he seeks solutions to revitalize his struggling side and climb up the table. The performance against Wolves serves as a stark reminder of the work that lies ahead for Manchester United if they are to achieve their season’s objectives.
