Michael Carrick
Manchester United manager Michael Carrick
Manchester United are unbeaten in the Premier League since Michael Carrick took charge, and Matheus Cunha has now explained why he believes the change has shifted the club’s direction.
In an interview with Globo Esporte, the Brazilian praised Carrick’s understanding of the competition following Ruben Amorim’s departure. Even though he recently gave Amorim his flowers, this week Cunha chose to speak about the manager directly responsible for United’s revival.
The club have collected five wins and one draw from their last six league matches. During that run, Cunha scored twice and added an assist. He’s thriving under Carrick and he knows it.
“He is someone who was a multiple champion with Manchester United as a player,” Cunha said. “He won the Premier League several times. He was coached by Alex Ferguson, who is a legend of the sport. He knows what it takes to win here. I believe that, more than tactical issues, Carrick adds a lot from the side of someone who knows the paths representing the club.”
Turning point at Emirates for Manchester United
One result stood out. Manchester United’s 3-2 win away at Arsenal, who were leading the table at the time, marked what Cunha described as a defining night.
He came off the bench and scored in that comeback victory. According to the forward, that match strengthened belief inside the dressing room, and there’s a standout aspect of Carrick’s approach.
“It is a very strong team, but we played with a lot of courage at the Emirates,” he said. “Even when we went behind, at no moment did we lower our heads or give up on our game plan. It is about winning mentality, about believing in what the coach prepared during the week. We need that, to believe we can face anyone. It was one of those games that mark a career. I will never forget it.”
Manchester United’s improvement has coincided with Cunha’s continued strong form. Last season with Wolverhampton, he became the joint-highest scoring Brazilian in a single Premier League campaign with 15 goals, matching Roberto Firmino and Gabriel Martinelli.
World Cup ambition driving him on
Matheus Cunha admitted that club form and international ambition are closely linked.
“Of course the main focus is helping Manchester United, but I cannot hide the motivation of defending the Brazilian national team, especially at a World Cup,” he said. “I do everything to be in that group, to represent that shirt. It is every player’s dream. The competition is strong, everyone knows the quality of Brazil’s forwards, but I trust in myself and in my work. I am living a good moment here at United and I will keep working at the maximum to maintain this phase and even improve it.”
Brazil national team manager Carlo Ancelotti sure likes him. And for Manchester United, that hunger could be just as important as the tactical tweaks under Carrick.