After the match, stand-in Manchester United captain Lisandro Martinez expressed the team’s disappointment during an interview with the media. “The lads are very disappointed,” he acknowledged following the disappointing 1-1 draw against Wolves. “We expect better.”
Advertisement
United fans, who booed their team off the pitch at the final whistle, certainly share that expectation.
This was a Wolves team that had suffered 11 consecutive league defeats prior to Tuesday’s match and remains on track to surpass Derby County’s record for the worst performance in Premier League history, despite finally earning their first point since early October.
The crowd voiced their frustration in the second half, chanting “attack, attack, attack” as they witnessed their team struggle to create chances. Meanwhile, head coach Ruben Amorim opted to substitute one central defender, Ayden Heaven, for another, Leny Yoro, with just 15 minutes left on the clock.
Young forwards Chido Obi and Shea Lacey, although still developing, remained unused on the bench.
Advertisement
United’s expectations remain high as this recent home match reflects a trend of underwhelming performances, including a loss to 10-man Everton, a draw with relegation-threatened West Ham, and a four-goal concession to Bournemouth. Although they did secure a victory against Newcastle on Boxing Day, this latest result feels like a regression.
Remarkably, United sits sixth in the league table at the close of 2025, trailing Chelsea—who holds what is likely the fifth Champions League qualification spot—only on goal difference. They will not drop further than seventh when the first match round of 2026 concludes.
“I’m really confident,” Amorim remarked regarding the new year. “We just need to recover all the players.” He added, “I cannot predict what will happen until the season concludes. We will assess our performance then.”
Advertisement
In fairness to Amorim, he is grappling with a significant list of absentees. Mason Mount became the eighth player sidelined due to injury or international commitments, failing to recover from the issue that forced him off during the victory against Newcastle.
The absence of captain Bruno Fernandes was particularly noticeable, especially with Bryan Mbeumo and Amad Diallo participating in the Africa Cup of Nations and Kobbie Mainoo also unavailable due to an injury that cropped up in training right before the defeat at Aston Villa on December 21. The team’s lack of creativity is evident.
Advertisement
With Matheus Cunha underperforming and Benjamin Sesko still adjusting to his role at the club, Amorim saw limited options, resulting in Joshua Zirkzee being the only player left to choose from. Zirkzee, who joined from Bologna for £36.5 million in July 2024, has struggled to justify his place in the squad and was substituted at halftime despite scoring a deflected goal in the first half.
While Amorim downplayed the situation, one cannot ignore the necessity for a deal with Serie A side Roma, who are interested in bringing the Dutch forward back to Italy. The funds from such a transfer could be used to acquire a player who can enhance United’s performance.
“I focus on what I can do to win the game,” said Amorim. “We needed to adjust our strategy based on the game’s requirements because we were struggling.”
Advertisement
“I don’t consider age and experience; they put many players in the midfield, and with Jack [Fletcher], we balanced that out.”
‘Everyone expected a win’
Minority owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe has already expressed concern regarding the substantial investment in players who are not making significant contributions. Zirkzee is just one of several examples.
Wolves manager Rob Edwards mentioned that he addressed the negativity from the stands to his players at halftime, aware of how detrimental it can be.
Advertisement
“Everyone came expecting a win, maybe even a comfortable one, and that’s not how it turned out,” he reflected.
Although Amorim stated he wouldn’t use key players’ absences as an excuse, he did acknowledge their significance when highlighting the issue. “We’re dealing with a scenario where many players are out at the same time,” he explained.
“When you have Casemiro and [Manuel] Ugarte in the midfield, it’s different than playing with Kobbie Mainoo, Mason Mount, or Bruno [Fernandes]. That’s just reality.”
He added, “We need to recover our players, and once the others return from Afcon, the team’s fluidity will improve. Today, we had the potential to win, but we lacked fluidity, quality, and chances to create opportunities. The goal we conceded from a set-piece was crucial; those details matter in tight matches.”
The situation appears more fundamental. As Martinez asserted, better is expected.
As we enter 2026, it is clear that United’s performance during the winter transfer window will likely determine their hopes of qualifying for the Champions League.