What does it say about this Manchester United team that opponents are now preparing for games trying to score direct from corners? Emphasising what a mess Ruben Amorim has inherited, they have conceded twice in that comedic manner within a week, with Matheus Cunha the latest to take advantage. Wolves manager Vitor Pereira has barely been in English football for five minutes but worked out quickly how to defeat United, who have now conceded 10 times from corners this season. He told Cunha to use his inswinger to score directly, just like Son Heung-min did in the League Cup last week.
The Brazilian tried it in the first half and Andre Onana managed to keep the ball out. When it was attempted again just before the hour mark, Onana had no protection from defenders amid challenges from Santiago Bueno and Matt Doherty. Cunha’s set-piece floated straight into the far corner.
To put it into context, only 17 direct corners have been scored in the Premier League since 1993 before Cunha’s strike at a foggy Molineux. Yet this was no Christmas miracle, with Pereira spotting one of the clear weaknesses in Amorim’s team. “Of course we analyse every match and try to understand the spaces we can explore,” said Pereira.
Cunha showed why he has been tipped as the next Wolves player to be targeted by the big clubs, following up his improvisation for the first goal with an assist for Hwang Hee-chan to wrap up victory. United finished the game in shambolic fashion, having fallen apart fo.