Manchester United have completed a full Premier League season without defeat on their travels, but it is the trip to Gdansk which promises to define Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s season.
All roads lead to Poland for Wednesday’s Europa League final as Solskjaer aims to put the gloss on a campaign of progress with United’s first silverware in four years.
United wrecked Nuno Espirito Santo’s emotional farewell at Molineux to extend their unbeaten away run to 26 league matches, becoming only the third club in English football history to secure an entire season without defeat.
Paul Pogba and Bruno Fernandes were both left at home in a drastically overhauled squad, with this week’s final against Villarreal the priority.
Solskjaer has unquestionably delivered this season, with United finishing five points ahead of Liverpool in second-place, yet it is Wednesday night where his tenure will be judged.
This proved a disappointing end to Nuno’s magical four years as head coach, with Wolves falling to the 17th defeat of a difficult season.
Nuno was given a remarkable ovation from hundreds of fans outside the stadium before the game, but what followed was a microcosm of their campaign with poor finishing and underwhelming individual performances.
United were ahead after 13 minutes, after a brilliant counter-attack down the left.
Daniel James was sent running down the wing and his cross into the Wolves penalty area found Anthony Elanga, who powered his header past Rui Patricio for his first United goal.
Making only his second league start, Elanga was full of running and intent for much of the afternoon.
Wolves levelled six minutes before half-time after a combination between two summer signings, Fabio Silva and Nelson Semedo, playing in front of home fans for the first time.
Leander Dendoncker found Silva in space and the teenage forward’s cross was poked past Dean Henderson by Semedo.
United were then awarded a penalty deep into stoppage time after a lengthy Var check, with Mike Dean reviewing Romain Saiss’ challenge on Donny van de Beek on his pitchside monitor.
It appeared the correct decision, though Dean initially did not give it, and Juan Mata’s penalty put United back in front.
Wolves were largely dominant in the second half, inspired by 4,500 fans attending their first Molineux game since March 7 last year.
But they could not find another goal, with Willian Jose – the striker signed as a temporary replacement for injured Raul Jimenez – producing another abysmal performance.
Wolves must now find a new head coach, with Jorge Mendes’s trusted assistant Valdir present at Molineux, and finding someone who can replicate a fraction of Nuno’s success will be tricky.