Nicky Butt says he ‘feels sorry’ for Matheus Cunha after Manchester United’s 3-2 win over Arsenal.
Cunha scored United’s late winner in their victory over Arsenal on Sunday to make it two wins from two games since Michael Carrick arrived as manager.
The Brazilian forward, who joined United in a £62.5 million deal from Wolves in the summer, also provided the cross for Patrick Dortgu’s goal in the 2-0 win against Manchester City in Carrick’s first game in charge.
Dorgu, who is now set to be sidelined for around 10 weeks due to a hamstring injury, started both games for United while Cunha was brought on as a second-half substitute.
Both Butt and Paul Scholes believe Cunha will not be happy with that role under Carrick, although Dorgu’s injury may now mean that the 26-year-old starts against Fulham on Sunday.
Speaking about Dorgu’s situation at United following Carrick’s arrival, Scholes said on The Good, The Bad and The Football podcast: ‘He was brought in as a wing-back because that was Amorim’s system, but going back to when we were playing, wide players actually would help your full-back, and United have started doing that.
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‘Against Saka, who is their best attacker by a million miles, it was like playing against two left-backs at times because he was working back, but he’s scoring goals as well.
‘I don’t see him there as a left winger full-time, Michael’s obviously seen something in him that he likes because he’s left Cunha out for him, and what a player he is.’
Butt then interjected: ‘Cunha’s giving you an option off the bench and I do feel a bit sorry.’
Scholes replied: ‘He won’t be happy with that, no chance, he won’t be happy with that sentence.’
Butt then said: ‘If you look when Darren [Fletcher] was in charge and he’s looking at his bench, he’s got no one to come on. You’ve got the young lads which is okay, they’re good players but when it’s going bad you need proper pros in that team who can come on the pitch, stick their chest out and go against people.
‘He might find himself in a bad position now, Cunha, thinking, ‘I’m a really good sub to bring on, I carry the ball up the pitch, I get the fouls, kill the clock when we’re winning and I can score goals’, he could end up being a super sub.
‘Also with the Cunha situation, I think Mbeumo has been brilliant as a nine. I think he’s done that job really, really well. He’s a handful, he’s powerful, he’s quick, you’re thinking Cunha might see himself on the bench for a good few weeks now.’
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