Just one game is not enough to declare Michael Carrick a success at Man Utd, but his Matheus Cunha decision is enough to prove Ruben Amorim was bound to be a failure.
The red half of Manchester is in dreamland after Michael Carrick scripted a stunning 2-0 victory over their neighbours.
Bryan Mbeumo and Patrick Dorgu were the scorers in a game where the scoreline flattered City, as United dismantled them with precision and purpose.
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Matheus Cunha came on in the second half to be a menace, and that decision proved why Ruben Amorim was bound to fail at Old Trafford.
Manchester United's Brazilian striker #10 Matheus Cunha celebrates after supplying the cross for their second goal during the English Premier League football match between Manchester United and Manchester City at Old Trafford in Manchester, north west England, on January 17, 2026
Photo by Darren Staples / AFP via Getty Images
Michael Carrick’s Matheus Cunha decision
Carrick caused a stir in the lead-up to the game by dropping Benjamin Sesko to the bench despite the striker being on a hot streak in front of goal.
The decision to drop Cunha was more understandable, since the Brazilian has struggled of late and Carrick had Amad and Bryan Mbeumo back from AFCON.
Still, Cunha has established himself as a big-game player who relishes responsibility, and playing Patrick Dorgu in his place was hardly a unanimously popular call.
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However, Cunha unleashed hell on City after coming on in place of Mbeumo.
He ran like he had to fit in 90 minutes of work in his 20 minutes of playing time, assisted Dorgu’s goal and should have had an assist for Mount’s goal, which was disallowed for offside.
Cunha deserves credit for that display, but it was Carrick’s decision to bring him on in the first place, something that Man Utd fans won’t be too sure about Amorim doing.
Ruben Amorim’s in-game management was frustrating
Carrick brought Cunha on for Mbeumo to refresh legs in the attack so that United could keep counter-attacking with the same speed and zip.
It’s not hard to envision this game under Ruben Amorim devolving into a smash-and-grab after he makes defensive changes instead of attacking ones and does his usual centre-back switching.
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United always seemed to invite pressure when they had a narrow lead under Amorim, and it was by design because he used to shut up shop and let the players see out the win.
More often than not, the players would buckle in the face of wave after wave of attacks, and the conversation would go to the soft underbelly of the team.
Against City, not only did United repel them successfully, but looked like the likelier team to score another, as Cunha’s fresh legs made him a threat and his ball-retention in close spaces killed City’s momentum every time they lost the ball.
In the end, a proactive change helped the defence to keep a clean sheet, which is what United need to do, especially at home.
Amorim never resonated with that thinking. He was bound to fail at Man Utd.
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