With the current season dependent only on success in the Europa League, the Premier League is no longer a top priority for Manchester United. However, despite the 0-1 defeat to Wolves at Old Trafford, there are still positives for coach Ruben Amorim.
In a series of changes made after a tense 120 minutes against Lyon in the Europa League, Amorim gave young defender Tyler Fredricson his first opportunity to play in the match against Wolves.
If in a normal season, Fredricson will have almost no chance in the first team of Man United. But injuries and rotation have given the 20-year-old a surprise opportunity. And this young star has grasped it.
With the performance of 18-year-old full-back Harry Amass and 17-year-old striker Chido Obi from the bench, Amorim can at least see some positive points even if the "Red Devils" lose the match.
"What I feel today is that they deserve a better memory from their first matches. Tyler played very well, Amass played very well, and they deserved more because we were the better team.
We played well, created opportunities, but in the end there was only one chance for the opponent and they scored. These guys don't have many good memories but they played very well" - Amorim said after the defeat to Wolves.
Starting on the left wing of the three-man defense, Fredricson showed solidity and calmness when holding the ball. Fredricson has missed many opportunities due to injuries at the youth level and has not always performed well in the U21 shirt.
However, Fredricson could be happy with his smooth progress in the first team. And if Amorim needs a young centre-back, Fredricson will be one of the first to be remembered. Fredricson struggled with a cramps late in the game, but still tried to complete the 90 minutes before leaving the pitch amid applause from fans.
When Jose Mourinho let his key players rest before the 2017 Europa League final, one of the young stars he called up was Scott McTominay. The midfielder has performed well enough in those games to become a regular part of the first team. The English midfielder made more than 250 appearances for the "Red Devils" before joining Napoli last summer. Fredricson hopes to achieve something similar.
Fredricson's big day would have been better off if Wolves come on as a substitute, Pablo Sarabia, had not taken a stunning free kick in the 77th minute. The Wolves picked up their first double against Man United since the 1979-1980 season by sending Amorim's side to their 15th defeat in this year's Premier League campaign.
Man United have not lost more than that in the Premier League since the 1989-1990 season. Eight of those defeats came at Old Trafford - their most in a single season in 62 years.
Wolves are theoretically safe in the relegation race. And when looking at the top spot, Man United are the same. With 5 remaining matches, it is possible that the "Red Devils" will still face embarrassment if they are only one place behind the relegation zone.
