There were numerous highlights in Manchester United’s 1-0 victory over Wolves at Old Trafford.
1. Maguire’s demise
In theory, Harry Maguire remains a Manchester United player. The West Ham United contract is still on hold, leaving everyone wondering whether the English midfielder would leave or stay. Erik ten Hag demonstrated before Wolves that it is better for No 5 to leave Old Trafford since he is now second in line to Victor Lindelof in terms of importance.
Ten Hag trusted Lindelof when he withdrew Lisandro Martinez early in the second half. That’s concerning in Maguire’s case. The 1-0 victory over Wolves could be his final game at Old Trafford as a Manchester United player.
2. Get compensated for your craft
With the exception of Martinez, who was forced to leave the field after the first half due to a yellow card, the remainder of the Red Devils defense was excellent. Andre Onana demonstrated poise in ball distribution by successfully completing 24/36 passes with a 67% accuracy rate.
The Cameroon goalie made six successful saves throughout the game, demonstrating the rookie’s quick reflexes. Meanwhile, Aaron Wan-Bissaka’s cross will make Diogo Dalot anxious, allowing Raphael Varane to bring back a vital goal.
Finally, in the case of Luke Shaw, the defender provided numerous rescue opportunities while also playing the ball.
The disappointment caused by the attack is the polar opposite of defense. Upline plays seldom and lacks cohesion. When Manchester United failed to form an efficient combination, the majority of the finishing scenarios were from individual attempts.
3. Two-number 7 disaster
Mason Mount continues to underwhelm after a string of underwhelming friendlies. He was almost lost and lost as a left-sided midfielder. Mount lost the ball 9 times, failed to make a critical pass, and had no finishing situations, according to statistics.
Alejandro Garnacho, a number 7 in the hearts of Manchester United fans, also performed poorly. The young Argentine star lost the ball 11 times, did not have a vital pass phase, had four shoots, two of which went up in the air, and two of which were stopped. He and Mount both departed the field in the 68th minute, as Ten Hag handed Jadon Sancho and Christian Eriksen chances.
Ten Hag is more likely to calculate changes in staff structure and organization. The 4-1-4-1 system with Bruno Fernandes and the taller Mount Casemiro is ineffective. When the captain rose, Bruno frequently stepped on Mount’s feet.
4. Clearly defined transfer priority
With two aggressive midfielders, Casemiro is the only one who can protect the defense. The Brazilian player was unable to carry the midfield, and Wolves players frequently collided with him.
This demonstrates that Manchester United will require another midfielder capable of competing and knowing how to defend, similar to Sofyan Amrabat. Amrabat can boost steel and strengthen dueling skill, which Manchester United absolutely lost to Wolves. The Old Trafford club had 45 efforts to win, which was less than the Wolves’ 71.
5. Wolves should be held accountable.
Matheus Cunha and his teammates put together an effective counter-attack defense. Man United’s defense trembles whenever the yellow jersey players ‘push the gas’. Wolves had 14 penalty-area shots, one of which went through the wooden frame.
They produced more scoring chances than Manchester United by finishing with 23 shots (6 on target). All of those efforts to break through the wall resulted in an expected goal score of 2.27. That performance outperforms Manchester United’s 15 shots (3 on target) and 1.46 anticipated goal value.
Aside from Onana’s brilliance, Wolves’ forwards should blame themselves for being disrespectful in front of goal.
