Chris Sutton has labelled Manchester United's tactics under Ralf Rangnick as more "highly depressing than high pressing" as they slumped to their first defeat under his interim tenure.
After below-par performances against Norwich and Newcastle, the collapse against Wolves was to be expected as the Reds missed the chance to close ground on the European places.
Since the German took over, he has failed to spark immediate change and revolution as the showing against Bruno Lage's side wasn't the first time United towed the line of uncertainty after edging past the Canaries and holding on at St James' Park.
During the first half of Monday's clash, Rangnick took evasive action to rectify the problems caused by Wolves opting to go three at the back.
Sutton believes that move was 'telling' as it affirms his lack of trust in the players playing in his system.
"Watching Ralf Rangnick abandon his 4-2-2-2 system at half-time against Wolves - the formation that was seriously bigged up after his arrival as this apparent godfather of gegenpressing - was telling," he wrote in his Daily Mail column.
"It told me he doesn't think this group of players can play the way he wants them to.
"Wolves had managed 14 shots in the first half, so Rangnick decided to try a back three for the second half in a desperate bid to stop the waves of attacks. No good, as they still lost 1-0.
"Where Rangnick goes from here is of the utmost importance to United's season.
"He walked into a relatively kind fixture list which meant he could try to implement his ideas. First he had Crystal Palace, which resulted in a 1-0 win. Then United beat Norwich, drew with Newcastle and beat Burnley. Their displays weren't the best, however, and it felt as if this flat defeat by Wolves was coming.
"It's all well and good to want to win the ball back high up the pitch, but it only works if the team does it in tandem, like Ralph Hasenhuttl's Southampton."
Prior to his appointment, much was made of his Gegenpressing philosophy, something that has gained plaudits for its implementation at their Premier League rivals, Liverpool and Chelsea.
Cristiano Ronaldo was one of the players pinpointed ahead of Rangnick's arrival and Sutton insists the system isn't benefitting the key players in the squad such as Jadon Sancho and Bruno Fernandes.
He added: "With United, it's been more highly depressing than high pressing and this set-up doesn't get the best out of certain individuals.
"Jadon Sancho was signed for £73million in part because of how good he was in one-v-one situations in Germany. Yet we haven't seen that side to him.
"The 4-2-2-2 means he's often operating inside when, really, he's better out wide. Sancho has completed only 20 dribbles this season - fewer than Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, N'Golo Kante and 40 other players.
"When the opposition full-backs push up the pitch, Sancho is expected to track back. That leaves him way deeper than where United fans want to see him. Bruno Fernandes is expected to do the same job but that isn't a strength of his. Rangnick realises that, hence why he benched him for Wolves."
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