'We tell our fans the truth: that we lack a lot of things in our team, that we miss chances'
Wolverhampton Wanderers' Pablo Sarabia (second from right) scores their side's first goal of the game during the Premier League match at Old Trafford, Manchester.
MANCHESTER United slumped to another Old Trafford league defeat, thanks to Pablo Sarabia’s free-kick, and Ruben Amorim provided the answer to one very simple question.
If United supporters were wondering what their team would have looked like this season without their inspirational skipper Bruno Fernandes, Amorim’s decision to start with him on the bench provided the depressing answer.
Amorim had good cause for fielding a weakened line-up, handing a debut to young defender Tyler Fredricson in the process, with United’s season now firmly revolving around Europe.
But their performance was so lacklustre that Fernandes had actually been brought on as a substitute by the time Wolves won a 77th minute free-kick after Christian Eriksen clattered into Matheus Cunha just outside the area.
Sarabia, who had only been on the field for only three minutes, sent a superb strike sailing above the leaping United wall and into the top corner of the goal to cap a memorable Wolves victory.
It was their first double over United since 1979-80 and an eighth home league defeat of the campaign for the Reds - their worst mark since losing nine at Old Trafford in 1962-63.
After the exhilarating midweek heroics against Lyon, this was a cold, hard reality check for supporters about the lack of depth in their squad, and the lack of goals, with Rasmus Hojlund’s misery continuing.
“We tell our fans the truth: that we lack a lot of things in our team, that we miss chances,” said Amorim.
“If we don’t score goals, we’re not going to win and we have a lot to do, focusing on improving the team, step by step and understanding that, until the end of the league, it is going to be like this. Then, we need to do something.” One of those things, surely, will be to find goals with Hojlund bearing the brunt of the criticism as he stretched his miserable run to one goal in his last 29 hours and 28 minutes of football.
“If you look at the games, we have several players who miss big chances, not just Rasmus,” said Amorim. “Of course, Rasmus’s game is scoring goals because he is a striker but it’s a team thing.
“The only way I know how to help him is work with him, show him videos. He needs to score a goal and he will not score if we take him out of the team.” Wolves keeper Dan Bentley was not overly troubled in a dire first half, punching the best United chance, a well-hit 30-yard free-kick from Eriksen, over his bar.
It was a dull reminder of just how much United have relied on Fernandes this season although, fortunately for United, Wolves had even less to offer in attacking terms, as they head firmly into end of season territory, with relegation no longer a concern.
But, when a Cunha corner deflected narrowly behind off Victor Lindelof, Amorim had seen enough and made a triple substitution on the hour, including Fernandes.
Fernandes almost made an instant impact, firing in a pass for Eriksen to lay off for Alejandro Garnacho whose low cross was missed at the far post - yet again - by Hojlund.
Amorim maintained the youth theme, by bringing on 17-year-old striker Chido Obi, but United’s lack of attacking threat was afflicting even Fernandes. On 73 minutes, Garnacho reached him with a square ball which the Portuguese mis-hit wide from six yards.
After Wolves broke the deadlock, Cunha curled a shot at Onana, a wasted chance, really; and Mason Mount fired over wildly from 12 yards out.
The final whistle saw Wolves celebrate wildly as their safety was mathematically confirmed and manager Vitor Pereira acted as cheerleader with visiting fans. It was the first time Wolves have won five consecutive top flight games since 1972 - Amorim has won six league games in total since his arrival in November.
“I’m not looking at the relegation zone, I want my players looking at the positions we can reach by winning the next three points,” said Pereira.
The Wolves win also lifted them level on points with United and, at least, offered their formerly illustrious hosts one small consolation - like Pereira’s team, Amorim could “celebrate” being certain of avoiding relegation, despite the defeat.
Onana 6; Marzaoui 5, Lindelof 5 (Yoro 78, 5), Fredricson 6; Dorgu 6 (Dalot 59, 5), Eriksen 6, Ugarte 6 (Fernandes 59, 7), Amass 8; Garnacho 6, Mainoo 6 (Mount 59, 5); Hojlund 4 (Obi 70. 5). Substitutes (not used) Casemiro, Evans, Heaton, Maguire, Yoro.
Bentley 7; Bueno 7, Agbadou 7, T Gomes 7; Semedo 5 (R Gomes 74, 5), Andre 6, J Gomes 6, Ait-Nouri 7 (Doherty 82); Munetsi 5, Cunha 8 (Djiga 90); Strand Larsen 5 (Sarabia 74, 5). Substitutes (not used) Mane, Doyle, Forbs, King, Traore.
: R Jones 7
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