Ruben Amorim’s crash course in Premier League life has been anything but smooth sailing. Since taking over the reins at Manchester United a month ago, the guy’s been thrown right into the deep end—and, boy, it’s been rough. Sitting at a dismal 13th on the table, the Red Devils just got served a brutal 3-0 smackdown by Bournemouth on Sunday. Yeah, you read that right—Bournemouth. If you’re a United fan, you’re probably thinking- what the heck happened to competing for a Champions League spot?

But hey, Amorim and his boys have a shot at redemption on Boxing Day. They’ll roll up to Molineux, ready to take on Wolves, a team that’s got a little swagger of its own after trashing Leicester 3-0 last weekend.

Vitor Pereira’s pep talk

Before we get into the showdown, let’s talk about Wolverhampton’ new head honcho, Vitor Pereira. This dude knows a thing or two about pressure. He managed FC Porto back when Amorim was tearing it up for Benfica, so there’s history here—kind of. Pereira isn’t throwing shade, though. Quite the opposite. He’s all about hyping up his fellow Portuguese coach. “Amorim’s got the juice, he’s the new wave of Portuguese tacticians—sharp, strategic, and a beast at communication. He’ll figure it out in England.” Pereira said in his presser.

Props to Pereira for the good vibes, but let’s be real—Amorim’s got his work cut out for him. Seven points in six games isn’t exactly lighting up the scoreboard, is it? Sure, there was that sweet 4-0 win against Everton, but it’s been downhill since. Losses to City (1-2) and Forest (2-3) have fans sweating bullets. The frustration hit a boiling point after the Bournemouth debacle, but Amorim’s keeping it 100. He’s not sugarcoating anything. “We’ve got problems, no doubt,” he said. “But this is a marathon, not a sprint. We’ll get there.”

One of the biggest buzzes around Old Trafford has been Marcus Rashford riding the bench. Fans are like, Yo, what’s the deal? Amorim cleared the air, saying it’s all about managing the squad’s health. “It’s not personal,” he said. “Marcus is hungry to play, but I’ve got to think long-term. We need him firing on all cylinders, not sidelined with an injury.” Fair enough, but let’s see how long the fans stay cool with it.

The Wolves showdown

Wolves are feeling themselves right now. They’ve got Pereira steering the ship and just crushed Leicester 3-0. The Boxing Day clash will be the first time Amorim and Pereira go head-to-head as managers. United needs this win, like, yesterday. But Wolves aren’t about to roll over. They’ve got momentum, and Pereira’s already showing he can shake things up. Look, Amorim’s not a miracle worker, but the guy’s got a track record. Remember his Sporting CP days? His squad started the season with 11 straight wins. That’s no fluke.

He’s been honest about the uphill battle at United. “We’re a work in progress,” he said. “Big improvements are coming, but it’s gonna take time.” He’s playing the long game, and if United gives him the space to do his thing, who knows? Maybe they’ll be back to balling out before we know it. For now, though, all eyes are on Molineux.