Photo by Lee Parker - CameraSport via Getty Images
Photo by Lee Parker - CameraSport via Getty Images
Michael Carrick’s struggles at Man Utd might be overblown after just three games, but Paul Scholes has identified a Matheus Cunha problem.
After missing almost half of the pre-season due to the World Cup, Matheus Cunha has still managed to be one of Michael Carrick’s reliable soldiers.
Due to Marcus Rashford taking the left-wing position by storm, Cunha has become somewhat of a square peg in a round hole.
Amad’s injury has allowed him to play as the striker, since Bryan Mbeumo went to the right wing, but Paul Scholes has argued that Carrick has created a problem in the process.
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Photo by Lee Parker – CameraSport via Getty Images
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Michael Carrick’s Matheus Cunha problem
In some ways, United cheated on Cunha within months of his arrival, as the project sold to him would have constituted a maverick role in the No. 10 position.
Once Ruben Amorim was sacked, that position went to Bruno Fernandes, leaving Cunha in an awkward position.
Nevertheless, he made the most of his chances under Carrick and established himself as a superb option on the left wing last season.
With Rashford’s unexpected return, Cunha can either be Fernandes’ backup, who rarely rests, or play as the striker.
The latter has happened for the last two games, and it couldn’t be clearer that the Brazilian is not enjoying life up top.
Scholes said on his recent podcast that Cunha has been left in no-man’s land, and it’s no longer clear what he is as a player.
He said: “It’s very difficult to watch a Man United team without a centre forward. Now, what Cunha is, I don’t really know what Cunha is, what is he a number 10 or a wide player, but he’s definitely not a number nine. And watching the United team without a number nine, it’s a struggle.”
Scholes is not really renowned for insightful takes about Man Utd, but fans would echo this sentiment, having watched Cunha huff and puff to no avail in the last two games.
Carrick has too many similar profiles at Man Utd
Cunha’s problem is a result of Carrick having a lopsided squad where there are too many similar profiles, while lacking in variety.
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Amad, Bryan Mbeumo, Matheus Cunha, Rashford, and Shea Lacey are all inside forwards, which is why Carrick insists on playing Patrick Dorgu as a traditional winger on the left.
Players of a similar profile can only be backups for each other, because starting them together makes the team extremely predictable.
Another thing you can do, which Carrick is doing, is playing them together but in different positions, which is where Cunha’s struggles begin.
He doesn’t have the movement or the link-up play required to be a striker, and when his head is down, his pressing takes a toll as well.
Cunha is at his best when he’s running into space, able to get into his stride. Playing with his back to the goal goes against everything he is good at.
The struggle is real, and it’s a problem Carrick has given himself.