Player ratings: Wolves 1-4 Manchester United
United traveled to Molineux seeking clarity on their league form and came away with a resounding 4-1 victory to lift them into sixth place. This is the type of performance their manager Ruben Amorim has been pushing for, combining intensity, quick transitions and midfield clarity. Wolves have now lost nine games on the bounce and looked restless from the opening whistle. The energy in the stadium reflected a fan base stretched to its limits.
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Manchester United’s opening game left Wolves fans feeling a twinge of pain. Andre hesitated in possession and was forced into a mistake, passing the ball straight to Matheus Cunha, who set up Bruno Fernandez to finish. The quote from the original report is still telling: “The former Wolves player provided the final score for Bruno Fernandes.”
An early blow unsettled the home side but they found a brief boost when Ki-Jana Hoever calmly leveled the score with a shot. The buzz inside Molineux surged as Wolves pressed higher and for a moment looked like they could inspire something meaningful. But United’s reaction was more pointed. Bryan Mbeumo fired on when Sam Johnstone burst through and Mason Mount added further damage with a superb strike just after the break. When the fourth arrived, Wolves were chasing shadows.
Under Amorim, United’s combination of vertical movement and sharp one-touch exchanges proved too much for a Wolves team lacking belief. The statistics paint a clear picture of the situation, with United having 65% possession and 27 shots on goal compared to just six for Wolves. The gulf in confidence was evident and the home team’s defensive structure was simply not equipped to cope.
Game flow and tactics description
Wolves sat deep early and tried to limit United’s creative core, but their own attack repeatedly faltered. Andre struggled under pressure, Ladislav Kresi couldn’t find his rhythm and the front two were isolated. The visitors pressed the full-backs high, forcing Wolves back and creating turnovers in dangerous areas.
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United’s midfield, with Casemiro and Fernandes controlling the tempo, dictated the tempo of the game even as Wolves attempted to counterattack with direct passes to Jurgen Strand-Larsen. Amorim’s side pressed smartly, won the ball back quickly and attacked in a chaotic moment for Wolves. It was a template performance for a team trying to rebuild its identity.
Wolves player ratings
Sam Johnstone 6
Jason Mosquera 6
Emmanuel Abado 5
Totti Gomez 7
Ki-Jana Hofer 6
Andre 5
Ladislav Kresi 5
David Mohler Wolf 5
Jorgen Strand Larson 3
John Arias 4
Phil Lopez 5
Substitute:
Torua Rocodare 5
Hugo Bueno 5
Matthäus Mane 5
Manchester United player ratings
Sene Ramens 6
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Nusair Mazrawi 5
Aiden Paradise 5
Luke Shaw 5
Amad Diallo 5
Casemiro 5
Bruno Fernandez 8
Diogo Dalot 6
Brian Mbemo 7
mason hill 6
Matthews Cunha 7
Substitute:
Lenny Yoro 5
Lisandro Martinez 5
Kobe Mainu 5
Joshua Zirkzee 5
Patrick Dolgu 5
