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7 Key Highlights from Manchester United’s 1-0 Win over Wolverhampton Wanderers in the Premier League: the good and the bad.
1. Shape.
A. In possession — MUFC had Matic slotting in to form a back three, allowing circulation of the ball.
B. MUN’s pattern to building out the back was to exploit WOL’s narrowness and progress the ball through the flanks and the half-spaces.
A. In possession — MUFC had Matic slotting in to form a back three, allowing circulation of the ball.
B. MUN’s pattern to building out the back was to exploit WOL’s narrowness and progress the ball through the flanks and the half-spaces.
2. Out of Possession.
MUFC maintained a 4-2-3-1 with a high/mid-block pressing structure to cut off WOL’s central progression, forcing them to push forward and creating space for transitions.
Issue: MUFC did not act as cover shadows well, allowing WOL to transition quickly.
MUFC maintained a 4-2-3-1 with a high/mid-block pressing structure to cut off WOL’s central progression, forcing them to push forward and creating space for transitions.
Issue: MUFC did not act as cover shadows well, allowing WOL to transition quickly.
3. Crosses.
MUFC looked to attack through long/through balls to supply runs behind their backline and crosses into the penalty box to bypass WOL’s compact defensive structure.
Greenwood’s shift and turn was excellent — leading to MUN’s most dangerous chance of the first half.
MUFC looked to attack through long/through balls to supply runs behind their backline and crosses into the penalty box to bypass WOL’s compact defensive structure.
Greenwood’s shift and turn was excellent — leading to MUN’s most dangerous chance of the first half.
4. Slow.
A. In transitions, MUFC did not exploit the space left behind well — Matic’s poor pass slows down Telles and allows WOL to organize.
B. Distribution/movement to disrupt WOL’s organization was poor — too little players in the box, too long on the ball, misplaced passes.
A. In transitions, MUFC did not exploit the space left behind well — Matic’s poor pass slows down Telles and allows WOL to organize.
B. Distribution/movement to disrupt WOL’s organization was poor — too little players in the box, too long on the ball, misplaced passes.
5. Tactical Switches.
With Luke Shaw, MUFC defended much better against transitions.
With Martial, MUFC exploit the space in the right flank caused by their overloads on the left and switch — allowing Pogba to make underlapping runs and receive in the half-spaces.
With Luke Shaw, MUFC defended much better against transitions.
With Martial, MUFC exploit the space in the right flank caused by their overloads on the left and switch — allowing Pogba to make underlapping runs and receive in the half-spaces.
6. Defensive Discipline.
(A) Good organization in defending cutbacks and crosses — tracked the runners well.
(B) Greenwood tracked back excellently, allowing MUFC to close dow WOL better.
(C) Halted WOL’s transitions well.
(A) Good organization in defending cutbacks and crosses — tracked the runners well.
(B) Greenwood tracked back excellently, allowing MUFC to close dow WOL better.
(C) Halted WOL’s transitions well.
7. Winner.
This was an excellent through ball from Bruno — exactly what MUFC needed: a run to bypass WOL’s backline and a ball to supply it.
WOL already began to lose their compactness at the dying minutes, and MUFC exploited that well.
Rashford cuts inside and shoots.
This was an excellent through ball from Bruno — exactly what MUFC needed: a run to bypass WOL’s backline and a ball to supply it.
WOL already began to lose their compactness at the dying minutes, and MUFC exploited that well.
Rashford cuts inside and shoots.
MUFC needed to learn how to win when performances weren’t at best — and this result was a testament to that, especially in a congested season.
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