Ruben Amorim expressed satisfaction with Manchester United's performance after their 4-1 victory over Wolves at Molineux. Despite the win, he believes the team can still improve their finishing. The victory moved United to sixth in the Premier League standings, with Bruno Fernandes scoring twice, and Bryan Mbeumo and Mason Mount also finding the net.
United's attacking prowess was evident as they registered 27 shots, their highest in a Premier League match under Amorim. This was only surpassed by their 28 attempts against Chelsea in December 2023. Their expected goals (xG) stood at 4.1, significantly higher than Wolves' 0.4. In all competitions, only once have they achieved a higher xG under Amorim, which was against Real Sociedad in March with
4.25 xG.
Amorim acknowledged the team's strong start but noted that Wolves managed to get back into the game briefly. "I think we started the game really well," he told Sky Sports. "We scored a goal, and we let Wolves get back into the game a little bit. " He praised United's second-half performance for its pace and decision-making quality.
The manager was pleased with how his team finished the match, especially given Wolves' current struggles. "It was a good evening," he said. However, despite scoring four goals, Amorim did not attribute this to improved clinical finishing due to the high number of shots taken.
Former Wolves forward Matheus Cunha had a notable impact on the game with eight shots, more than any other player on the pitch. Although only one of his attempts hit the target, Cunha provided an assist for Fernandes' first goal and played a crucial role in Mbeumo's goal through his precise pass to Diogo Dalot.
Cunha has been directly involved in 12 goals across his last 13 Premier League appearances at Molineux, contributing six goals and six assists. Amorim highlighted Cunha's movement as pivotal in creating space for teammates like Fernandes and Mount to exploit.
Amorim remarked on Cunha’s versatility: "They have the quality to do that," referring to how players like Fernandes and Mount benefited from Cunha’s dynamic positioning. "He moves around more than a typical nine," Amorim added, emphasizing how this flexibility was advantageous for United’s strategy.
Reflecting on United’s progress compared to last season, Amorim noted significant improvements in creating chances and scoring goals. He expressed satisfaction with these developments: "I think we improved a lot if you compare us to last season. " The manager enjoyed watching his team’s performance in the second half and felt confident about their victory from early on.
