Manchester United's "Wolf Pack Strategy" pays off handsomely! Year-end gift of points serves a dual purpose, as the bottom club halts two top-four rivals in succession.

Should Manchester United achieve their aim of qualifying for the Champions League this season, reflecting on the entire campaign, the 1-1 stalemate against Wolves on the last day of 2025 will prove to be of immense importance. That fixture represented a twofold pivot, sparking an internal revival for the Red Devils while also energizing a Wolves side that was then strongly tipped to record the poorest season in Premier League history. Supporters of United humorously refer to this as the payoff for their "Wolf-rearing Tactic".

After being held to a draw away at Wolves, the rift between former head coach Rúben Amorim and football director Jason Wilcox became public. The Portuguese young manager openly challenged the club's hierarchy ahead of the trip to Leeds United, ultimately being dismissed following two consecutive 1-1 draws. After Darren Fletcher took temporary charge for two matches, Michael Carrick stepped in to lead the team. United have since been transformed, remaining unbeaten in their last seven matches with six wins and one draw—the best record in the Premier League over that period.

Carrick has brought a much-needed calmness to United in recent years. He is so low-key that even at a family gathering, he did not reveal he was about to be appointed Manchester United manager! It is reported that Carrick received the call informing him he had overtaken Ole Gunnar Solskjær to become the club's first-choice manager this season while driving to visit family in his hometown in the North East of England.

However, Carrick did not broadcast the news, keeping it entirely to himself. When meeting family and friends afterward, they had no idea he was about to take the United job. His close friend Chris Hood told the BBC: "He didn't say a word, but I wasn't surprised. There had been plenty of rumors by then, but none of us knew the inside story. We could only wonder in our hearts: 'Could it be him?' Michael [Carrick] came solely for his family and friends; he just wanted to cherish the precious time with loved ones."

The unbeaten run under Carrick has seen United's league position climb steadily, rising from seventh to third. Alongside the Red Devils' own impressive progress, the stumbles of their rivals have been equally crucial. Had other teams also kept winning, United would have remained behind even with their own victories.

But United's top-four rivals Aston Villa, Liverpool, and Chelsea have all stumbled. Among them, Wolves—whose morale was boosted by holding United to a draw—have played a notable part. In the past week, the Premier League's bottom club, led by manager Rob Edwards, has successively defeated Villa and Liverpool, creating a more favorable top-four race scenario for United.

Wolves have been a transformed side since their draw against United. They followed it up with a 3-0 thrashing of West Ham United for their first win of the season, then drew with Everton and Newcastle United. Although they lost to Manchester City, Bournemouth, and Chelsea, they subsequently earned an away draw at Nottingham Forest and a dramatic 2-2 home draw against Arsenal with a last-gasp equalizer.

After a 2-0 victory over Villa and a 2-1 last-minute win against Liverpool, Wolves' points tally has reached 16. This means they have avoided two infamous records: Derby County's Premier League lowest-ever points total of 11 in the 2007/08 season, and they will also finish with a better record than West Bromwich Albion's second-lowest total of 15 points in the 2005/06 season.

Wolves even glimpse a faint hope of a miraculous escape from relegation. If they continue winning, they trail 17th-placed Nottingham Forest by only 11 points. Of course, Wolves' chances of staying up remain slim—they have only eight matches left, while Forest have ten. Wolves have taken 8 points from their last 8 games, whereas Forest have managed 9 from their last 10; at the current rate, Wolves cannot survive.

Regardless, United must thank Wolves for their help—stemming from fair play and not giving up—and wish them well for a successful campaign in the Championship next season. After all, the club not only sold Matheus Cunha to the Red Devils this season but also boasts 21-year-old Chinese overseas player Xu Bin, formerly a defensive midfielder for Qingdao West Coast.