Premier League legend Wayne Rooney has sent a clear-cut challenge to Matheus Cunha after the Manchester United star’s stunning performance against Brighton on Saturday evening.
Matheus Cunha continued his role in the Manchester United starting XI and the 26-year-old Brazilian forward put in a strong showing at Old Trafford at the weekend.
The former Wolves ace broke the deadlock in the first half after he stroked home a superb effort from outside the box and straight into the bottom corner of the net.
Cunha’s opener for United against Brighton was the first time that the Brazil international had scored for the Red Devils since his summer move from Wolves.
The Brazil international was a real threat in attack and Cunha linked up superbly well with fellow United summer signings Benjamin Sesko and Bryan Mbeumo.
Man Utd legend Wayne Rooney asked about Matheus Cunha’s post-match comments at Old Trafford
Matheus Cunha played 81 minutes in Manchester United’s 4-2 victory over Brighton before Ruben Amorim took him off and replaced him with Manuel Ugarte.
The ex-Wolves star appeared relieved to break his goalscoring drought for United, with Cunha breaking his silence in a post-match interview on Saturday evening.
Wayne Rooney has admitted that Cunha’s remarks after United’s win at Old Trafford showed that the Red Devils attacker needed a confidence boost in the final third.
“Yeah, no, you could see how much everyone was delighted for him, you know, the manager as well,” he said on BBC Sport’s The Wayne Rooney Show.
“And because that can play [on] your mind, we’ve seen it with [Florian] Wirtz at Liverpool as well. And, you know, the more it goes on, the harder it is to go and do it.
“And you lose that confidence again. But to get that goal is massive for him because I think some of his performances have been really good.
“He’s obviously missed a few games through injury, but you can see the delight I’ve had where we’ve had players who need the goal and you know they need the goal because they’ve gone through a difficult time.”
What Wayne Rooney wants to see from Matheus Cunha at Man Utd going forward after the Brighton result
Cunha went seven Premier League matches – and eight across all competitions – before he scored for the Red Devils in Saturday’s 4-2 result at Old Trafford.
The Red Devils summer signing has impressed with his performances for United manager Ruben Amorim, but he has struggled with scoring and getting assists.
Rooney insisted that he wants Cunha to start showing that he is capable of grabbing a match by the “scruff of the neck,” similar to what he did at Wolves last season.
“And, you know, you just hope that that spurs him on as well,” he continued.
“And, you know, he starts showing what we’ve seen at Wolves last year. I think he can kick on from that.
“And I think he can certainly, you know, get better and go and grab the game by the scruff of the neck because that’s what he can do. He can play in different positions. You know, he’s unpredictable at times.”
United brought Cunha to Old Trafford in June after the Premier League club activated – and paid – his hefty £62.5m release clause at Wolves.
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