Ruben Amorim will be cursing his luck because Wolves sacking Vitor Pereira means he’ll again be facing a rejuvenated team, but there’s a lesson about Matheus Cunha closer to home as well.
After drawing 2-2 against Sean Dyche’s reinvigorated Nottingham Forest side, the scene will repeat itself when Man Utd travel to take on Wolves in December.
It will be Matheus Cunha’s first game back at the place where he announced himself to the Premier League, but that game just got a bit trickier.
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While that’s a negative byproduct of Vitor Pereira’s Wolves sacking, a positive lesson is there to be learned by Ruben Amorim about Cunha from that sacking.
Matheus Cunha of Wolverhampton Wanderers sees red after he clashes with Milos Kerkez of Bournemouth and is guided off the pitch by his Head Coach Vitor Pereira during the Emirates FA Cup Fifth Round match between AFC Bournemouth and Wolverhampton Wanderers at Vitality Stadium on March 01, 2025
Photo by Robin Jones – AFC Bournemouth/AFC Bournemouth via Getty Images
Vitor Pereira’s sacking puts Matheus Cunha in new light
United knew they were getting a maverick in Cunha, as evidenced by their quick movement in snapping him up as soon as the window opened.
He has been exactly as advertised, earning fan favourite status quickly with his selfless style of play combined with moments of inspiration.
However, he still hasn’t had that signature game where he takes the contest by the scruff of its neck and brings his team home.
Now that Wolves have sacked Pereira, with zero wins in the season so far, it puts into perspective just what Cunha is capable of.
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Minus Cunha, Wolves have looked like a completely broken team that is incapable of winning, scoring, or competing in tough moments.
If the opinion about Cunha when he left Wolves was that of a maverick with a temperament, Wolves’ exploits, or the lack of them, since his departure, paint him in a borderline saviour role.
Therein lies a lesson for Amorim and everyone at Old Trafford.
Ruben Amorim needs to maximise Cunha
Cunha’s selflessness and eagerness to impress at United have almost worked against him so far, as he has played multiple positions in thankless roles.
At his best, he is a free spirit who wins games single-handedly, as the Wolves’ season so far has proven.
Amorim needs to borrow a page out of Wolves’ playbook for Cunha and free him up a bit to let him do what he does best – be a maverick on the ball.
The tactical discipline and hard work off the ball are non-negotiables for an Amorim XI, but even the most demanding managers make some compromise for maverick talents in their squad.
If Amorim had any doubt that Cunha was one of those players, Wolves’ plight since selling him should hammer that point home.