Stand-in captain Lisandro Martinez did not hide his frustration after Manchester United were held to a disappointing 1-1 draw by Wolves at Old Trafford. Speaking after the final whistle, the defender summed up the mood succinctly. “The lads are very disappointed,” he said. “We expect better.”
The reaction from the stands underlined that message. United supporters booed their team off the pitch, angered by another flat home performance against opponents who had lost 11 consecutive league games. Wolves remain rooted to the bottom of the table and are still on course for an unwanted Premier League record.
This was a match many expected United to win comfortably. Instead, fans were left chanting “attack, attack, attack” as their side struggled to create clear chances. Head coach Ruben Amorim’s late decision to replace one central defender with another only fuelled the sense of confusion.
Teenage forwards Chido Obi and Shea Lacey stayed on the bench despite the lack of attacking spark. For a crowd craving urgency, the conservative changes symbolised a team short of confidence and ideas.
The draw extended a worrying run of home performances. United have recently lost to 10-man Everton, failed to beat relegation-threatened West Ham and conceded four goals against Bournemouth. A Boxing Day win over Newcastle briefly lifted spirits, but consistency has again proven elusive.
Yet, remarkably, United end 2025 in sixth place. They trail Chelsea, currently occupying a likely Champions League qualification spot, only on goal difference. With fixtures remaining, they cannot drop lower than seventh when the match round concludes on New Year’s Day.
Amorim struck an optimistic tone afterwards. “I’m really confident,” he said. “We just need to recover all the players. When we recover everyone, we are going to be a strong team. There is no doubt in my mind.”
Injuries and absences offer some context. Mason Mount joined a lengthy list of unavailable players after failing to recover in time. Captain Bruno Fernandes was sorely missed, while Bryan Mbeumo and Amad Diallo remain away at the Africa Cup of Nations.
The absence of Kobbie Mainoo has further reduced creativity. With Casemiro and Manuel Ugarte anchoring midfield, United lacked the fluidity usually provided by their younger, more dynamic options.
Up front, the problems look more structural. Matheus Cunha was below his best and new signing Benjamin Sesko is still adapting. That left Joshua Zirkzee as the only alternative, despite his struggles to establish himself since arriving from Bologna for £36.5 million.
Zirkzee scored United’s goal, albeit via a deflection, but was withdrawn at half-time. His uncertain status has intensified speculation about a potential move to Roma, with many questioning whether reinvesting that money could better serve United’s needs.
Amorim avoided singling out individuals but admitted the tactical challenges. “We needed to do what the game was asking,” he said. “They put a lot of men in midfield and we had to balance that.”
Wolves manager Rob Edwards highlighted the atmosphere, noting how expectations can quickly turn into negativity. “Everyone turned up expecting a win,” he said. “It wasn’t that, and it affects players.”
Minority owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe has already expressed concern over expensive signings failing to deliver. Zirkzee is among several players now under scrutiny as United assess their direction.
As 2026 dawns, the feeling is that this goes beyond one disappointing draw. United’s hopes of returning to the Champions League may hinge on how decisively they act in the January transfer window. For now, as Martinez said, better is expected.
