Wolverhampton Wanderers 1-2 Manchester United: 5 talking points as youthful Red Devils sign off with a narrow win | Premier League 2020-21

Goals from Anthony Elanga (L) and Juan Mata (R) secured a 2-1 win for Manchester United over Wolves.
Goals from Anthony Elanga (L) and Juan Mata (R) secured a 2-1 win for Manchester United over Wolves.

#3 Red Devils end their season unbeaten on the road

Manchester United end the 2020-21 Premier League campaign unbeaten away from home.
Manchester United end the 2020-21 Premier League campaign unbeaten away from home.

Much of Manchester United’s success this season has to be put down to their impressive away record, especially in the league. With their home form proving to be quite disappointing, their performances on the road have gone a long way towards balancing things out in the final table.

As a result of their win at Molineux, Manchester United joined an exclusive band of just three clubs who have gone an entire English top-flight campaign unbeaten away from home. The Red Devils join Preston and Arsenal - the Gunners managed to do so twice - in achieving this remarkable feat.

This achievement gives Manchester United a major boost ahead of the Europa League final and going into next season. Combined with an improvement in home form, a similar campaign on the road would undoubtedly allow the Red Devils to stake a more substantial claim for the title.


#4 Manchester United give fans a tantalizing glimpse of the future

A whole host of exciting youngsters took to the field for Manchester United.
A whole host of exciting youngsters took to the field for Manchester United.

With the Europa League final on the horizon for Manchester United, manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer opted to rest the majority of his starters and field a mix of youth prospects and fringe players.

Among the youngsters taking the field from the start for Manchester United were Anthony Elanga and Amad Diallo, whose performances for United’s youth teams this season have caught the eye.

Also named on the bench were the likes of Will Fish, Shola Shoretire and Hannibal Mejbri. All of them were also rewarded for their performances at youth level and were brought on in the final stages of the game.

As a result, United saw the game out with an extremely youthful quartet of Elanga, Hannibal, Shoretire and Daniel James leading the line for them. Also present on the field were Brandon Williams, Dean Henderson and Axel Tuanzebe, who, along with Fish, completed an impressive complement of academy graduates for United.

Manchester United fans will no doubt expect the club to contest for the signatures of the world’s best players this summer. However, they can also take heart from their commitment to field players from their youth sides, some of whom they will no doubt expect to lead United to trophies in the future.


#5 Both sides sign off hoping for improvements next season

Both Manchester United and Wolves can be positive about the start of next season.
Both Manchester United and Wolves can be positive about the start of next season.

While the gap to local rivals Manchester City is yet to be bridged by Manchester United, it has been a season of positives for the Red Devils. Not only have they accrued more points this season than they did last time out, but they are also in the running to win their first piece of silverware under Solskjaer.

While they end the season on a high, Manchester United will be well aware of certain areas they need improvement in. Whether it be their shaky defense or their dubious home form, United will aim to come back stronger next season.

Meanwhile, Wolves will begin a new chapter in their history next season with a new face at the helm after Nuno Espirito Santo departs the club, leaving behind an impressive legacy.

The 2021-22 Premier League campaign is likely to be one of rebuilding for Wolves. They will welcome striker Raul Jimenez back into the fold following an injury that kept him out for the majority of the recently concluded season. Wolves will also look to make additions to the side as they aim to make their way back into the top half of the table.

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