“Very frustrating…” — Lisandro Martinez fumes after Man Utd slip up vs Wolves

Lisandro Martinez did not hide his anger as Manchester United were held to a frustrating 1-1 draw by bottom-of-the-table Wolves at Old Trafford, a result that once again exposed the club’s growing problems at home.

United came into the game knowing a win would push them into fourth place in the Premier League, but instead they were left to reflect on another missed opportunity. Wolves, who had picked up just two points from their previous 18 league games, collected only their third point of the season to leave Old Trafford with confidence, while United supporters were left disappointed yet again.

The draw means United have now dropped nine points from their last five home matches in a worrying six-week spell. Even more concerning is the pattern emerging this season: this was already the sixth time United have taken a 1-0 lead in a game and failed to go on and win.

Martinez, who captained the side for the second game in a row due to Bruno Fernandes’ injury, was clearly upset by the outcome. Speaking after the match, the Argentine defender made it clear that United’s home form is simply not good enough.

“Really disappointed,” Martinez said. “We can’t come here at home and draw this game. We have to win when we play at home. The opponent has to suffer and we didn’t get the three points. Very frustrating.”

United did start brightly and looked in control for large parts of the first half. They pressed Wolves high up the pitch, moved the ball quickly, and eventually found the breakthrough through Joshua Zirkzee, who continued his fine run of form. However, instead of building on that advantage, United allowed Wolves to stay in the game.

Just before half-time, Wolves struck back with an equaliser that sucked the energy out of the stadium. It was a familiar story for United fans, who have seen their team lose focus at key moments far too often this season.

Martinez admitted that those small lapses are costing the team dearly. “The team gave everything,” he said. “But just for a few moments, we conceded in the last moment of the first half. That can happen, but it’s our responsibility.”

Despite Wolves’ league position, Martinez was keen to show respect to the visitors and warned against underestimating them. “Wolves don’t deserve the place they are in,” he added. “It’s a strong team. We respect them. We have to take more risks.”

The frustration inside the dressing room was clear. “The lads are very disappointed,” Martinez continued. “We expect better. We have to take it, accept it and go for the next one.”

Manchester United were missing eight first-team players, including Fernandes, but manager Ruben Amorim refused to allow injuries to become an excuse. The Portuguese coach pointed out that United had beaten Newcastle on Boxing Day with seven players unavailable, showing that the squad is capable of coping with absences.

“We didn’t use that excuse against Newcastle,” Amorim said. “We are not going to use it today.”

However, Amorim did acknowledge that the lack of certain players affected the way United played, especially against a team like Wolves that sat deep and defended in numbers. “If you see the game, I understand why we play the way we play today,” he explained. “The lack of fluidity, the lack of one against one.”

He went on to compare the Wolves match with the Newcastle win, highlighting the different challenges. “We knew it would be a completely different game compared to Newcastle because against Newcastle we had more space to play. We didn’t have to work the play so much. Today we had difficulties in that aspect and that is clear.”

Tactically, Amorim made some notable decisions. After abandoning his usual 3-4-2-1 system against Newcastle in favour of a back four, he reverted to a back three against Wolves. The idea was to deal with Wolves’ width and their use of wing-backs.

“We knew they would play with five at the back and use the width,” Amorim explained. “We tried to arrange the right situations for the moment we are in.”

Yet despite the plan, United struggled to break Wolves down in the second half. Amorim then made a bold call at half-time, replacing goalscorer Zirkzee with 18-year-old Jack Fletcher and switching to a 4-2-3-1 formation. While the change brought fresh energy, it failed to deliver the winning goal United desperately needed.

The result leaves United facing uncomfortable questions about their consistency and mentality, especially at Old Trafford, which was once considered a fortress. Dropping points against teams near the bottom of the table is becoming a worrying trend, and the frustration voiced by Martinez reflects a growing sense of urgency within the squad.

For Amorim and his players, improvement must come quickly. With crucial fixtures ahead, United cannot afford to keep letting leads slip or allowing opponents to leave Old Trafford with confidence. As Martinez made clear, playing at home should be an advantage, not a source of frustration.