Manchester United's blunt attack were punished by a late Everton equaliser on Sunday and the solution is unlikely to be found this season
Matheus Cunha started as the centre-forward for Manchester United on Sunday
Matheus Cunha started as the centre-forward for Manchester United on Sunday(Image: Lewis Storey - Danehouse/Getty Images)
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Matheus Cunha has had a mixed start to his Manchester United career. When he is at his best, you can see why Ineos made him their first signing, on the first day, of the 2025 summer transfer window. He has enjoyed some standout moments and adapted well to the left wing role when Michael Carrick arrived and reinstated the 4-2-3-1 formation.
One of Cunha's strengths is his versatility, but unfortunately this has worked against him so far this season. With both Amad and Benjamin Sesko either injured or recovering from injury, the Brazilian has been tasked as being United's centre-forward. He has a history playing centrally. Some of his best performances for Wolverhampton Wanderers were in the No.10 role.
However, that's not what United need. Cunha does not have the profile to lead the line and that showed against Everton on Sunday. His heat map, as provided by Opta below, shows the 27-year-old routinely dropping deep to get involved with play.
Matheus Cunha's heat map vs Everton
Matheus Cunha's heat map vs Everton
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This is particularly jarring when United were creating so many good chances down the left flank. Marcus Rashford and Luke Shaw were linking up really well, but the Reds lacked that presence in the box to get on the end of those opportunities.
According to Opta, Cunha had an xG of just 0.12 from two shots, one of which was inside the box. Sesko replaced Cunha with 20 minutes to go, and showed the stark difference having a proper centre-forward on the pitch can have.
He was less involved in the build-up (seven touches to Cunha's 42 albeit from 50 fewer minutes on the pitch), but produced an xG of 0.29, had the same number of shots as the Brazilian and, crucially, finished off the Reds' big chance with two minutes of normal time remaining.
Benjamin Sesko celebrates scoring his first goal of the season for Manchester United vs Everton
Benjamin Sesko celebrates scoring his first goal of the season for Manchester United vs Everton
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"I think we've grown," Carrick said about United's transfer window recently. "You go into the window and when you come out of it, you want to be stronger than you were at the start. I'm convinced we are that."
In some respects, he is right. United's midfield is stronger than it was. However, there are a number of positions that feel neglected, and centre-forward is one of them.
During the final hours of the window, United were pushing to sign a left-back. That search saw them enquire about Manchester City's Rayan Ait-Nouri, on loan. However, at no point did the Reds look close to adding a striker.
Carrick's argument will be that he has Bryan Mbeumo, Joshua Zirkzee and, of course, Cunha, to provide cover for Sesko. We have already pointed out the flaws with starting the Brazilian there, but there's also a reason Zirkzee has not yet had a kick for United, this season. He, similarly to Cunha, cannot lead the line and looks better in the No.10 role.
Mbeumo has done well up top, as shown in pre-season. However, with Amad injured, he is needed on the right flank.
This issue could soon rectify itself. Sesko is clearly getting stronger with each passing day and he will relieve Cunha of his duties as a centre-forward, before long. But the problem is clear and stems to the transfer window just gone.
United desperately needed to strengthen their squad to compete with the demands of multiple competitions, including the Champions League that starts on Thursday night. But, other than in midfield, they have not done that.
Once again, it seems United will have to cross their fingers and hope they are left unscathed by injuries. But no other side with the ambitions of United, has a squad as threadbare as theirs. That shows that their summer business has not been quite as good as United would like it to have been.