Matheus Cunha has managed to do the impossible, which is to impress people with his start at Man Utd despite not scoring or assisting as an attacker, and rightly so.
As a talismanic figure already, Matheus Cunha is seen by his teammates almost as a release valve because he can simply get on the ball and carry it forward, regardless of the opposition or circumstances.
His performance against Liverpool was Cunha at his finest, because even though his goalless start at Old Trafford continued, the performance was arguably his best in a United shirt.
All of this should make Man Utd fans all the more excited because when his next level unlocks, he’ll be unplayable. Fortunately, that’s about to happen.
Matheus Cunha’s ideal teammate is about to return
Cunha has already played in two positions at Man Utd, as the left-sided No. 10, which is his preferred position, and as a striker.
He showed at Anfield how good he can be as a striker, but it’s inarguable that Ruben Amorim will want to get this team to a point where he can play Benjamin Sesko as his striker in big games.
That will free Cunha to do what he does best at his preferred position, and he will also be helped by the teammate whose return couldn’t be better timed.
Lisandro Martinez has been out of action since February after injuring his ACL against Crystal Palace, and Martinez’s latest injury updates hint that his return is close.
United will be cautious with Martinez, but he is expected to return to full training this week, which means the November international break is the time after which he can return to action.
Martinez had already become Amorim’s crucial soldier before going down injured, but for Matheus Cunha, his return will be a particularly big boost.
Why Lisandro Martinez can unleash Cunha
So far, Cunha has done an admirable job of making the best of what he’s been given at United while still adapting to the club and playing against tough opposition.
Not only is the adaptation process continuing at pace, but the fixture list is also set to get a bit easier, at least on paper.
Martinez’s return completes the troika of factors that can unleash Cunha, because the left-sided centre-back role is extremely important in Amorim’s system.
Cunha has suffered from a bit of “Bruno Fernandes-ism” this season, as he has had to come deep to get on the ball repeatedly.
When Martinez returns, United will get their zippiest passer of the ball and the defender who is the best at carrying the ball up the pitch.
Cunha will no longer have to play effectively as a central midfielder to get on the ball, and he can be at his best closer to the goal.
Amorim’s ideal team wants to play in the opponent’s half, and for that, you need press-resistant centre-backs and ball-carrying attackers.
With Cunha, Amorim had the latter, and with Martinez, he’s about to get the former. United are about to see Cunha at his best when Martinez returns.
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