Ruben Amorim expressed that there were “no excuses” for Manchester United failing to secure a win against Wolves, following a 1-1 draw at Old Trafford, where Wolves sit at the bottom of the Premier League.
This match marked just the third point of the season for Wolves and their first since the appointment of manager Rob Edwards on November 12.
Amorim is facing significant absentee issues, including injured captain Bruno Fernandes, yet he maintained that his team should have outperformed a Wolves side that has not experienced a league victory since April.
“We didn’t use that excuse against Newcastle, and we’re not using it today. However, if you observe the game, it is clear why we struggled with fluidity and one-on-one situations,” Amorim stated. “We were aware that this game would differ from the one against Newcastle, where we had more room to maneuver.”
“We needed to work harder in our play today, and that was evident,” he added.
In addition to Fernandes, Amorim is also without Bryan Mbeumo, Amad Diallo, Noussair Mazraoui, Kobbie Mainoo, Mason Mount, Matthijs de Ligt, and Harry Maguire.
In facing Wolves, Amorim had nearly the same squad available as during their 1-0 victory over Newcastle on Boxing Day but opted to return to his preferred 3-4-3 formation after using a back four against Newcastle.
“We were aware that Wolves would utilize a five-man defense,” Amorim mentioned regarding his tactical choices. “They would spread the field, and it was crucial for us to adapt. Sometimes we would shift with [Patrick Dorgu] or adjust with Luke Shaw taking on the opposite role.
“We aimed to create the most effective scenarios given our current circumstances. Right now, we are managing a situation with multiple players absent at the same time.”
“It is evident that the combination of Casemiro and [Manuel] Ugarte in the midfield varies compared to having Kobbie Mainoo, Mason Mount, or Bruno, and that is normal.”
“We need to focus on getting our players back, particularly those involved in AFCON, and then our fluidity will improve.”
Manchester United will face Leeds away on January 4 to kick off their 2026 season.