Chapter 1: What happened in the Manchester United vs Wolves match?
Goalless draw at Old Trafford between Manchester United and Wolves. Not much in it from either side. Not too much drama as far as the match itself went. It means that they are six points off the top four. But 15 attempts for Man United, 14 for Wolves, five on target for the home side, three for the away side. Ten shots from outside the box for Manchester United.
28-29 touches in the opponent box and Manchester United with 64% possession. But let's get the thoughts of Ruben Neves now because he is with Patrick Davidson.
Ruben, well played. Pleased or frustrated with that result?
To be honest, we wanted to win. We want to win all the games. But, you know, when you come to Old Trafford and you get a draw here against this great team, it's always good for us. But now, just looking forward to the next one. We have now a week to prepare ourselves and then we go again.
Chapter 2: How did Manchester United perform despite the draw?
As always, you looked incredibly well drilled. What was the game plan coming here?
Just like usual, we wanted to play our game, have the ball, defend really well. I think we did well. They had some chances at the end of the game, but it's normal. They wanted to win as well. They were at home, but we controlled it. and I think it's a fair result for both teams because it was a good game without goals, but a good game to watch.
What was it like coming up against Bruno Fernandes then in that midfield, a guy you know well, on his Premier League debut?
It's always good playing against our teammates from the international team. I know him very well. I'm really happy for him. He's in a great club, in a fantastic league, and now he can show everyone what he can do. That is a lot. He's a great player, and I'm really happy for him.
Chapter 3: What were the players' thoughts on the match outcome?
Any fear for you guys coming here at all in the past, in the Premier League? Wolves coming to Old Trafford in the Premier League, maybe they'd have been a bit overawed. What about for you guys today?
No, you know, our mentality is playing the same everywhere. It doesn't matter the stadium. So we tried to play our football, like I said before. Unfortunately, we didn't get the win. But we go out from here with the draw. It's not bad for us. Good results, like I said. Let's take a rest and start preparing ourselves for what's coming.
How does it set you up, this result, for what's coming? Obviously Europa League, but maybe even Champions League for next season.
We don't think about that, to be honest. We don't think about the table, just go game by game.
Chapter 4: What was the game plan for Wolves during the match?
It's our philosophy since we started in Championship with Nuno, so we'll keep going on that, thinking game by game, try to win every single game and see where we can be at the end of the season.
Very well played today. You are the Premier League man of the match.
Thank you very much. Well played. Thank you. Well done, Ruben. Thanks.
Well, the man of the match, Ruben Neves, saying that he thought they dominated the game, that perhaps a goalless draw was a fair result in the end. Do you think that Nuno will be pleased with the way that Wolves, as he said, control the game?
Yeah, all in all, I think first half Wolves were excellent, were the better side. Without creating too many clear-cut opportunities, in the second half, I thought Manchester United tweaked it a little bit, putting Mata central. Wolves still had two fantastic chances with Jimenez and the header for Sais, and Sais is usually very good in the box, in those positions.
And I think all in all, though, coming here, getting a point, shows you how far Wolves have come. We mentioned there, I remember the McCarthy, all the changes that were made coming here, but now the mentality of Wolves are...
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Chapter 5: How did Bruno Fernandes impact his debut performance?
Fear factor in Manchester United is not there, but the belief and the process that Wolves have. So, decent point, and especially when Traore went off, then it was more difficult for Wolves. So, I think Wolves will be the happier of the two sides.
Yeah, I agree. I mean, in a way, Matt, I don't know if you're even a bit disappointed. The size header towards the end and I thought the control in the game. I just want to mention Ruben Neves because many years coming to play against and watch Michael Carrick, he has that quality in midfield, the way that he controlled the game today. And we're all talking about Bruno Fernandes before the game.
He was the one midfield player that stood head and shoulders for me. 22, 23 years of age, I think he is. He's a class player. You can really see that. He's the sort of player that you could see, no disrespect to Wolves, that's just going to an elite level. So good on the ball, so composed, always makes the right pass. Talk about quality midfield players, he is certainly one.
Chapter 6: What are the implications of this result for Manchester United's season?
Gary Neville joins us now from the gantry. Gary, if Nuno is satisfied, if not happy, with that team performance, what are they going to Solskjaer be feeling?
I think pleased with certain elements of the team's performance, the concentration levels to stop the counter-attack as many times as they could. Wolves still had some moments. I thought Harry Maguire-Lindelof did okay at that. I thought Fred was disciplined. Shaw, you could see that he was alarmed to Traore and the threat of him.
So I think there's some parts that I think he'll feel he's done well. But I think it comes down to maybe risk. And I think with risk would have potentially brought more problems and potentially a Wolves goal. But I think ultimately down to quality. You look at that front three in the first half, Martial, James and Mata. You look at it in the second half, it was Martial, James and Pereira.
That is well below the standard of the top class teams. teams in Europe and in this league.
Chapter 7: How do Wolves view their chances for Champions League qualification?
You look at Liverpool, you look at City, you look at Barcelona, Real Madrid, you look at all the top teams that have spent big money over these last five or six years. They haven't got a front three like that. They've got real top quality players who provide the difference in tight games. Manchester United's game plan was good.
The issue is the quality at the top end of the pitch is just not where it should be.
And obviously injury plays a part in that, Gary. But otherwise, why are Manchester United, who have spent money on players lacking quality?
the recruitment of the players hasn't been good enough. And you can go back to Falcao, you can go back to Di Maria, other players that they've signed, you know, Depay was young at the time and naive, but players that they've signed in forward areas of the pitch over the last five, six, seven years have not lit up this league.
And you look at what Liverpool have done, you look at what City have done, Tottenham in bringing through players, Son and Moura and Kane is a far better front three than what Manchester United have, even though Manchester United have spent money So, you know, your recruitment's wrong and ultimately you end up paying for it. And I think today the game plan was fine from Manchester United.
If you were sat up there today with Suarez, Messi and Neymar up front, you'd probably play the same way against Wolves. You'd just control the game, you'd wait for that moment and one of your front three would go and deliver for you. Manchester United don't have that front three at this moment in time that can work in tight areas and then can provide that moment of magic.
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Chapter 8: What strategies should Manchester United adopt moving forward?
And they struggle against teams who sit deep, who are structured, who are organised. They've signed a Gallo. Maybe that would give them a bit more presence if they were putting crosses into the box. But you've seen at the end of the game today, Kelly, the big thing is Manchester United are chasing a goal at 0-0 and they've had to bring on Jesse Lingard and Diego Dallo.
That tells you exactly where Manchester United are at. I know they've got a couple of injuries. Pogba and Rashford obviously would add to the team today and the quality. But you're always going to get a couple of injuries. Other teams have injuries as well.
You say, Gary, the recruitment's been bad, so who do you put that down to? Is it the managers that have spent poorly, or is it Ed Woodward, the owners? What do you put it down to? Because that team today cost £458 million. I mean, they've certainly thrown money at the problem.
No, they've spent a fortune, and like I said before the game, it's the second highest wage bill in Europe Manchester United have got. So it's not just about money and throwing money at it, but you've got to throw it at it wisely and get the right players in. And Ultimately, that's the big problem with Manchester United.
I'm not quite sure who is in charge of recruitment over the last seven or eight years. I think managers have had an influence, there's no doubt about that. But who is behind the scenes, spotting the players, making sure that Manchester United are ahead of the game, getting the likes of Sterling, Bernardo Silva, Mahrez, some of the players we know, a little less so.
You look at, obviously, Liverpool with Mane and Salah, who are known players for me, no less, obviously, from Germany. But, you know, these players have been available. Manchester United must have looked at them over the last seven or eight years. And other teams have taken those players and Manchester United haven't.
And I think there's other occasions where when Di Maria signs, for instance, I just thought that was a wonderful signing for United. I thought, here we go, this is going to work. He looks ideal for this big pitch out here. He's a wide player. He can counter-attack. He's got quality. And yet that didn't work. So it's not always been about maybe poor recruitment.
Sometimes it's not getting the best out of the players. But generally, if you look at that game today, just not enough quality in the final third of the pitch.
I think what you're saying to a certain extent, Gary, is it's like they've tried to... almost trying to sign Harlem Globetrotters, rather than being clever in the market, signing young players that you can turn into superstars. And Liverpool are a good example, because it's taken them 30 years to get to the point they are now.
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