Potentially so depending on the result in the second leg.
*Disclaimer*
This preview is being done before that game against Lyon so hopefully we haven't cocked up and our season is still alive. I'm going for a wedding this weekend so it has to be done now. But that is why I say this fixture against Wolves could be a non-event.
Although, when it comes to the battle for 17th, this is where it's at.
Indeed, United, Wolves, Spurs and West Ham are in a heated clash to see who will finish in the prostigious position of 17th, one spot above the relegation zone 👀.
Shit is going down people!
Banter aside, can you believe that the great Man United are potentially going to finish 17th, with no trophy and no European football?!
Good lord what the fuck happened to us?
How did it get so bad?
Anyway, that is the unfortunate reality and I reiterate, I hope that we've managed to beat Lyon and get into the semis.
Predicted Lineup
Honestly, I've no idea.
That result could play a part in Amorim's selection or maybe not.
Of course we don't want to lose and further increase our chances of finishing in 17th but if we were to go out on Thursday, the deflation amongst all associated with United would be tenfold.
I doubt that any side Amorim selects would be one that puts life into us all if defeat is suffered against Lyon.
Conversely, if we do win, there is a two week break between the quarters and semis which could give Amorim the chance to play a strong side without the thought of an important game during the week.
With the quick turnaround though and the potential for more injuries, perhaps the manager may want to rotate the team if we make it through. He won't want any more injuries ahead of a potential semi final.
This is the only time I haven't given a predicted lineup because I really have no clue what he'll do. Doing this preview before the match against Lyon also makes it difficult but even still, it would've been hard to know what Amorim will do based on the outcome of the second leg.
What team would you like him to select?
Approach
Again, a lot of this depends on the game in Europe. If we lose, there's not much that will get us going as there will be utter disappointment and disbelief that our season has pretty much come to an end.
The players already have that ability to drop their heads whenever the smallest things going against them so to know that they are out at the quarters of the EL, it could drop them to their lowest to a point where they might not be able to get up.
Then it doesn't matter what type of performance we put in.
On the other hand, a victory and procession into the semis could lift spirits to heights it has very rarely been lifted to.
The confidence boost the players and fans will get from such a win could mean that any team and any approach would be good enough to trounce Wolves.
Let's hope for this scenario.
The home crowd will obviously play a part regardless of the situation but it's also hard for us to feel uplifted if we are knocked out.
I'm sorry to keep repeating myself but the importance of the game (which is tonight) affects us in so many ways: team selection, approach, overall feeling of the players and fans.
It all comes down to mentality after Lyon.
Form
Forget about form either because we are far too inconsistnet. Winning, losing, drawing, all results have happened in the last few games.
Since the start of the year, we've played 13 in the league with our form reading:
Wins - 4
Losses - 5
Draws - 4
Goals - 17
Conceded - 19
The table makes for grim reading as well.
14th is where we are but we could go down to 15th if we fail to win and Spurs beat Forest as they are only 1 point behind us.
The good news (😅) is that even if Wolves beat us and West Ham win their game, whilst they will be level on points with United, thanks to the goal difference of -14 to Wolves, -18 to West Ham and a strong -7 to United, we will remain above them 🙌.
A win's a win. A win's a win 🤷♂️.
We also only have a 1.2 goal per game ratio with 38 scored in 32 matches. This means that only Everton and the bottom four have scored fewer 😐.
I don't know whether to laugh or cry.
Wolves
Contrary to United though, while the season may not have gone as well as they would've liked which included the sacking of Gary O'Neil, Wolves have seen an upturn in form under their own Portuguese boss Vitor Pereira.
As mentioned, Wolves are just 3 points behind United but can boast that they have one of the best forms in the league. In their last five, they have one draw and four wins in a row 😳. These four victories have seen Pereira's side score 10 and concede 5.
They have also scored more than United (47 to 38) but have conceded 16 more than Ruben's Reds.
At home, United are in a dysmal 13th but Wolves are 14th in the away table. In their 16 matches, they have 5 wins, 3 draws and 8 losses scoring 24 times and conceding 32 with a total of 18 points. This puts them above us in the away table.
Against the big 6, in 10 games, Wolves have 7 defeats, 2 wins and 1 draw scoring 14 and conceding a staggering 22 which was down to their record under O'Neil.
In fact, under their previous manager, Wolves conceded 40 goals in 16 matches whereas with Pereira, they've let in 21 in the same amount of games.
Quite the change with the new manager despite a slow start to life at Molineux.
Recent Meetings
Wolves will be looking to do the double over United for the first time since 1980 😳. In our last game, it was Newcastle who finally managed to achieve that feat after having not done the double over us in over 50 years!
However, in the previous four, United have won all four against Wolves including that 4-3 thriller in which Mainoo scored that wonderful goal right at the death to give United a famous victory.
Something like that this time around would be nice as well. At least an entertaining game like that will wake us all up.
Wolves also don't have the strongest record at Old Trafford only winning there once in their last 5 games.
Prediction
Traditionally, we know that matches between these two sides are quite close. The team who wins usually does so by the odd goal.
I could see another close game which is why I'm going for a 1-1 draw. A bit boring but I really don't know what to expect.
Matheus Cunha: Naomi Baker/Getty Images via PSG Talk
Leny Yoro: Image via Manchester United official X (@ManUtd)