Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim admitted Bruno Fernandes' sending off was a big factor in the 2-0 defeat to Wolves on Boxing Day.
Amorim suffered a fifth defeat in seven games as second-half goals from Matheus Cunha and substitute Hwang Hee-Chan kept Vitor Pereira's winning start alive.
United's task was made considerably more difficult when Fernandes was given his marching orders after receiving a second yellow card two minutes after the restart for a challenge on Nelson Semedo.
Fernandes is the first United player to be sent off three times in a season in all competitions since Nemanja Vidic in 2008-09 (also three).
His dismissal came at a time when the match was goalless at Molineux, and Amorim believes his side were unable to bounce back from that setback.
“Shipping was very difficult for us,” Amorim told Amazon Prime.
“It's so difficult to win games with eleven men in this competition. With ten men it's more difficult. That's what we have to concentrate on.”
United are defeated at Molineux.#MUFC || #WOLMU
– Manchester United (@ManUtd) December 26, 2024
United have lost four of their last five games in the Premier League, the same number of defeats as in their previous fifteen games in the competition (W7 D4).
Only Everton and Southampton (both nine) have failed to score in more different games than their seven this season.
Amorim is the first United boss to lose as many as five of his first ten games in charge of the club in all competitions since Walter Crickmer in January 1932 (six out of ten).
The Red Devils manager felt his team had sufficient control of the match, but at the other end failed to trouble Jose Sa.
“I think we were always in control of the game, not always dominating, but in control of some things,” Amorim said.
“We need to improve relations, but we also have moments. We lack a little aggression, but we don't train.”
Amorim also hinted that there had been no change in Marcus Rashford since he was banned from the matchday squad as the forward had missed the last four matches.
“It's always for the same reason. We have to be the same professionals, the same guys, win or lose. If I lose, I have to be stronger,” Amorim said.
“I will continue with my idea until the end.”
When asked if he had shown anything different since leaving him out, he replied: “If he's not there, you can make up your mind.”
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