A humiliating defeat in the Europa League final. a historically awful Premier League campaign. A brand-new head coach who won’t be afraid to reveal how unpopular Manchester United have become.
One of the biggest clubs in the world is obviously broken and knee-deep.
One of the most significant transfer windows in United history is this summer.
They can’t afford any errors if they want to avoid yet another failed reboot. Ruben Amorim is adamant about playing in the 3-4-3-3-3-3 system because they must give him the best resources possible to succeed.
What should you do first?
You could do worse than to sign Matheus Cunha, the club’s best player of the season, who is currently at the end of his career.
The problems with goalscoring that exist in Erik ten Hag’s time must be addressed by United.
Only the bottom three Premier League teams, including Everton, outscored United over the past season. They were the top scorers in the top half of the table the previous season, and they were the lowest team overall.
goalsetters and creative thinking
That Cunha played for a Wolves team that primarily had a back three system under both Gary O’Neil and Vitor Pereira will benefit Amorim.
A number of players have moved on to other countries after becoming a burden with the United shirt, such as Scott McTominay’s dancing in Naples.
However, the fact that Cunha accepted the responsibility for creating chances at Wolves and scoring them from nothing can cheer up United fans.
With numerous significant contributions, Cunha became the club’s talismanic at Wolves, avoiding the drop twice.
Consider, for instance, the first of Cunha’s two goals against Nottingham Forest in April 2024, a 2-2 draw. The Brazilian dribbled into the top corner from the corner of the penalty area, rounding two Forest defenders, and launching a shot into the top corner.
The Manchester United attack has gotten too predictable.
Before the wing-backs and midfielders are marked, they pass it to the back three, leaving the striker with no choice but to run.
Rasmus Hojlund, who isn’t particularly good at holding the ball up, frequently gets the long pass, which leads to a turnover.
United lack players who can move the ball around and use it.
Only Amad Diallo and Alejandro Garnacho, who are likely to leave, have the ability to attack defenders with their initiative and create a chance in a systemic setting.
ability to carry balls
There haven’t been many games where you can say Amorim’s style of play has worked since his arrival.
The team’s lack of ball carriers is a major factor in this.
Kobbie Mainoo and Ten Hag were sufficient. On the defensive half-turn, he could drive the ball up the pitch. However, in 2024 and 2025, Mainoo found it difficult to find minutes.
The statistics suggest that United needs a player who can turn the ball from defense to attack, and Cunha might be one of them.
The Brazilian’s ability to carry balls well is what makes him want to go deep in order to take possession. His new club has a lot of potential there.
The press frequently suffocates United’ central midfield, forcing them to pass it backwards to the back three.
Both of the number 10s on either side of the main striker are responsible for dragging an opposing defender out of position and dropping deep for the ball.
Cunha can wiggle free of challenges and dart into the half-spaces while dropping deep to receive the ball.
The defender who was pulled out of position has a space created by this.
After receiving the ball from the defense, Cunha showed at Wolves. He can cross an overlapful full-back with ease.
Cunha can pull wider to get the ball, allowing the opposition to be confused by the other players’ half-space.
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Because the danger is supposed to result from the full-backs’ movement, either out wide or underlapping, those characteristics will go with Amorim’s style. They can profit from Cunha’s tendency to draw players in.
Cunha scored the winning goal from a corner in a match in which Amorim’s side were completely outshot last December when Wolves defeated Manchester United 2-0.
It was a cheeky goal that demonstrated Cunha’s potential.
United’s flat attack desperately needs his flair, intelligence, and ability to grab games by the neck.
related subjects
- Manchester United
- Football
