Man United's Performance at Wolves: A Mix of Good, Bad, and Ugly, Further Fueling Doubt

Manchester United's 4-3 victory over Wolves was a bewildering affair, reflecting the inconsistent nature of the team throughout the season.

The match at Molineux was characterized by chaos, with United experiencing multiple swings in fortune. They initially secured a lead, then squandered it, only to reclaim it in the 97th minute courtesy of a brilliant individual goal from 18-year-old midfielder Kobbie Mainoo.

The performance of Manchester United can be described as a combination of good, bad, and ugly. However, what mattered most to manager Erik ten Hag was ending a challenging week marred by questions surrounding squad discipline and doubts over his suitability for the job at Old Trafford with a much-needed victory.

It should have been far more comfortable than it was after United dominated the first half and went in at half-time 2-0 up. They were 3-1 up after 75 minutes only to concede twice in 10 minutes, the second of which arrived in five minutes into stoppage time. It looked at that point as if United would be lucky to escape Wolverhampton with a point but Mainoo had other ideas.

The 18-year-old danced into the penalty area and curled a delightful finish into the far corner to score his first Premier League goal. Mainoo will never forget it and neither will the 3,000 travelling fans who almost spilled onto the pitch amid the jubilation.

"One side, very pleased, of course, it's a massive win," said Ten Hag. "I think for a neutral fan, a spectator of this game, it was great to see. But a manager, when you see you dominate a game for an hour and then the way we concede the goals we should manage that better on the pitch. This can't happen.

"Then you see the spirit of the team and the resilience and especially in Kobbie Mainoo, that is great to see."

Once the dust settles, Erik ten Hag will undoubtedly face questions regarding his team's ability to control the game for significant periods while still appearing vulnerable. Despite overlooking Pablo Sarabia's penalty goal to reduce the lead to 2-1 and Max Kilman's close-range finish for Wolves' second goal, there remains the perplexing question of how Manchester United, while leading 3-2 in stoppage time, allowed themselves to be caught on the break, ultimately presenting Pedro Neto with the opportunity to equalize at 3-3.

This turn of events unfolded from a United corner, despite several defensive changes made to secure the result. With the presence of Raphaël Varane, Harry Maguire, and Jonny Evans on the pitch, it is surprising that Neto found the space to sprint into the penalty area and slot his finish inside the near post, bringing Wolves within touching distance of salvaging a crucial point, all within 90 seconds.

"We should manage it better," Ten Hag said. "We have to hammer out these mistakes, they can't happen. We had some more stages in the games in the season as well. What is asked is leadership and it can't be that this happening that you concede such goals.

"It is quite naive. Stay calm, keep the ball and make sure your defending organisation is always good."

The jubilant home fans at Molineux, bouncing with excitement as the match entered stoppage time, likely didn't anticipate that it would be Kobbie Mainoo, a young player with limited senior experience, who would display remarkable composure. Mainoo's run and finish, even nutmegging Max Kilman along the way, showcased a level of skill and finesse that would make even Lionel Messi proud. This exceptional display from an inexperienced teenager was a moment of brilliance that left the spectators in awe.

The remarkable composure displayed by Kobbie Mainoo at the end of such a thrilling and intense game remains a mystery to everyone except Mainoo himself.

"It's truly amazing to witness, and I hope he maintains the same level of calmness he showed, just like he did with his goal," said Erik ten Hag. "He possesses a strong determination and displays good character, and I hope he continues to progress in this manner."

Ten Hag acknowledged having "mixed feelings" about the game, which showcased both positives and negatives that have plagued Manchester United throughout the season.

Despite Marcus Rashford's goal following his controversial trip to Belfast and Rasmus Hojlund's consistent scoring form, the missed chances and defensive vulnerabilities on display prevented any notion of Manchester United turning a corner in their season, despite the victory. Based on this performance, there is still a long way to go.

Nevertheless, Erik ten Hag can take pride in the character displayed by his team, as they managed to rally and secure a late winner. Additionally, the emergence of promising young talent like Kobbie Mainoo provides hope for the future.

Ten Hag's task now is to analyze the events of the match against Wolves and use them as a foundation to build upon for the upcoming game against West Ham. However, understanding the complexities and lessons from this match may require some time and reflection.

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