Manchester United produced one of their most convincing displays under Rúben Amorim, beating Wolves 4-1 at Old Trafford. Bruno Fernandes shone with two goals, one assist and a masterclass in playmaking, while Mason Mount also impressed and got on the scoresheet.
Rúben Amorim enjoyed one of his most relaxed victories since he arrived at Manchester United a little over a year ago, back in November 2024.
The victims were Wolverhampton, beaten 4-1, with Bruno Fernandes taking a huge share of the responsibility after a performance on a par with the very best he has produced for the club. For a manager who has lived through intense weeks of scrutiny, tactical debates and constant comparison with the club’s past, this felt like one of those nights where everything he has been working on finally came together in clear view for everyone inside Old Trafford.
The Portuguese midfielder scored twice, provided an assist and produced a host of other brilliant passes, thrilling Manchester United fans and lovers of good football in general. From the very first minutes it was obvious that Bruno had found that sweet spot where inspiration meets control. He dropped deep to help build play, appeared between the lines to receive on the half turn and then arrived in the box at exactly the right moments. Bruno was everywhere, conducting the team’s attacking play like a maestro with a baton, always demanding the ball, always pointing where he wanted teammates to move. Mason Mount also operated at a very high level and ended up being named man of the match, a reward not only for his goal but for the way he linked midfield and attack with constant movement and intelligent pressing.
The opening stages made it clear that the draw in the previous round had left a mark in the dressing room. After dropping points when they felt they should have won, the Red Devils went into the game ravenous, pressing high, snapping into challenges and playing with a tempo that quickly suffocated Wolves. The first goal was a perfect example of the fluency Amorim has tried to introduce. After a well constructed move on the right, the ball broke to Matheus Cunha, who slid a clever pass into Bruno Fernandes inside the area. With one fluid movement Bruno spun away from Ampadu, created half a yard of space and, already going to ground, fired in for the opener. It was a finish full of instinct and quality that set the tone for the rest of the night.
United were all over Wolves and racked up 14 shots in the first half, a tally they had not managed in the Premier League since 2008, when Sir Alex Ferguson was still in charge. The statistic is more than just a curiosity. It speaks to a shift in mentality and structure. Under Amorim, United have gradually become a side that looks to dominate games with the ball, compress the pitch in the opposition half and keep creating wave after wave of attacks instead of playing in short bursts. Full backs pushed high, Mount and Bruno constantly rotated positions and the wide forwards made diagonal runs that repeatedly pulled Wolves’ back line apart. For long spells it was one way traffic, with the Stretford End roaring every time United recovered the ball quickly and went straight back onto the front foot.
Yet football often refuses to follow the script, and in stoppage time before the break Bellegarde caused a surprise by equalising with a first-time finish from the middle of the box. A rare moment of defensive hesitation allowed Wolves to combine centrally, the ball was laid back and the midfielder swept it into the corner before the United defence could react. It was a punch to the stomach after such dominance and for a few seconds the stadium fell quiet, as if everyone present was thinking of previous seasons when promising performances had slipped away because of lapses like this.
The reaction after the interval, however, showed how much this team has grown under Amorim. Instead of dropping their heads or losing control, the Red Devils came out for the second half even more intense, as if determined to show that this time the story would be different. They were overwhelming, playing attacking football that was confident and, above all, clinical. The passing was sharper, the pressing more coordinated and the movements in the final third more synchronized. Wolves, who might have hoped to settle into a more balanced contest after their equaliser, were instead pinned back deep inside their own half.
Diogo Dalot, who had scored in the previous round, this time turned provider for the 2-1. After a well timed overlap on the right, he was released into space and lifted his head before sending a low cross into the six yard box. Mbeumo, timing his run perfectly between the centre backs, only had to tap in. It was the type of goal that summed up Amorim’s ideas: a full back attacking the space, a forward making a clever movement and the team exploiting numerical superiority in the final third. The stadium exploded again, not just in celebration but with a sense of relief that the superiority on the pitch was finally reflected on the scoreboard.
Mason Mount then calmed the team down with the 3-1 after a majestic pass from Fernandes. Dropping slightly deeper, Bruno spotted Mount’s diagonal run from midfield before most people in the stadium had even seen it. With a perfectly weighted ball between defenders, he left his teammate one on one with the goalkeeper. Mount took a composed first touch to steady himself and then finished with assurance, a goal that felt like a personal vindication after months of injuries, doubts and stop start form. The celebration, with several teammates surrounding him and Amorim applauding from the technical area, showed how significant that moment was for the group.
Bruno himself rounded off the scoring from the penalty spot after another flowing move resulted in a foul inside the area. He took responsibility without hesitation, placed the ball carefully and sent the goalkeeper the wrong way with a cool finish to make it 4-1. By then the contest was over and Old Trafford enjoyed something that had been rare in recent years: a final quarter of an hour played with calm, confidence and even a touch of showmanship, with flicks, combinations and long spells of controlled possession that drew appreciative applause.
“We scored four goals but we had plenty of chances. We have improved a lot if you compare last season with this one. We are creating many more opportunities, scoring more and having many more genuine dangerous situations, so I am very happy,” Amorim said after a game that leaves the team in the top six, just one point off the Champions League places. His words reflected not only satisfaction with the result but also pride in the way the team had imposed its style for almost the entire ninety minutes. There was no talk of luck or small details going their way, only of work on the training ground finally bearing visible fruit.
“There is always the same feeling that we should have more points. But that is in the past, we are going to focus on the future,” he added, aware that the table still does not fully reflect the level his side has shown in several big games. For now, though, this win over Wolves will stand as a reference performance in Amorim’s time at United. Bruno Fernandes reminded everyone why he wears the armband, Mount offered a glimpse of the player the club believed they were signing, the team hit an attacking mark not seen since the days of Ferguson and the fans left the stadium with a rare mixture of joy and quiet confidence that something solid is finally being built.
