Matheus Cunha believes Manchester United can take inspiration from last season.
Fulham v Manchester United - Premier League 2026/27
Matheus Cunha scored the equaliser for Man Utd at Fulham (Image: Getty)
Matheus Cunha reckons Manchester United can draw upon the final stages of last season to rescue their current campaign - saying "at the end of the day, we finished third" after some suggested they could get relegated a year ago. Michael Carrick's men looked to have a favourable start to the new Premier League season when the fixtures were revealed, yet they have managed just five points from matches against Hull City, Ipswich Town, Everton, Manchester City and Fulham.
This represents United's joint-lowest points haul after five matches of a Premier League campaign. The Red Devils also accumulated a total of five at the beginning of 2014/2015 - Louis van Gaal's maiden season at the helm. The scrutiny on Carrick has intensified in recent weeks. While Carrick continues to enjoy the board's unwavering support, United must raise their game and deliver results when top-flight action returns following the international break.
United were lacklustre at Craven Cottage, falling 1-0 behind against the side that started the afternoon rooted to the foot of the division, though they salvaged a point courtesy of Cunha's deflected strike in the 89th minute.
Cunha addressed a select group of journalists following the final whistle and cited last season as evidence of how United can progress, highlighting their improvement under Carrick in the second half of the campaign.
The Brazilian suggested "something good" could emerge if United can promptly replicate the sort of progress they achieved in the latter half of the season.
"Yeah, that will come. To be honest, that will come," he said when questioned whether it will require time for the squad to hit their stride.
"Last season was my first season here, and then maybe it was more crazy than this one. There was a lot of noise around us, a season without Champions League, and now we're in. And we won our first game in the Champions League.
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Matheus Cunha celebrates scoring away at Fulham (Image: Getty)
"And maybe people (last season) were saying 'Oh, United will go to the Championship' or something like this. And then at the end of the day, we finished third, you know?
"I feel like inside of us, we still have a lot of trust, we know what we do, all the belief is inside. But of course, I think it's like only the beginning.
"And then we know we need to improve earlier, because last season we improved later, and then we finished third. So imagine if we improve earlier this season, something good can come."
Cunha believes the international break has arrived at an unfortunate moment for him personally. "Yeah, for me it's hard, but to be honest, I'm so anxious to play the next one [game]. And then we have a big break now," he said.
"Of course, when you don't win, you feel this kind of feeling to let's play the next one to win and feel everything good. But yeah, maybe it's the moment to be calm, to put the ideas in the right way, to come back.
"And then of course that could be a big month, and then yeah, I hope this kind of things will be like everything exciting. And then we can win more things, and everyone will be calm, show how we work for the shirt."