After Joshua Zirkzee provided the assist for Matheus Cunha, the Brazilian spoke on his on-field relationship with Joshua Zirkzee, while also touching on his current situation at the club.
Manchester United were held to a 1–1 draw by Leeds on Sunday afternoon, as goals from Brenden Aaronson and Matheus Cunha ensured the spoils were shared.
The much-anticipated contest began at a high intensity, with United meeting Leeds’ physical approach head-on during a combative opening period. Clear chances were limited, though Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Cunha both threatened, with the deadlock remaining intact at the interval.
The tempo remained similar after the break until Leeds struck first through Aaronson. United hit back almost immediately, with Cunha finding the net 25 minutes from time to level the score for Rúben Amorim’s side.
Late pressure from both teams in search of a winner failed to produce a decisive moment, as a lack of composure in the final third saw the match finish all square.
Cunha wants Man Utd to count on Zirkzee
With Amorim fielding a mostly defensive-minded side, it was up to Cunha and Benjamin Šeško to provide most of the side’s attacking output.
While Cunha impressed on the day, the Slovenian forward struggled to make an impact on the game. After going 1-0 down, Joshua Zirkzee was introduced to the game, and just two minutes later, he assisted the equaliser, playing Cunha through with a brilliant through ball.
After the game, the Brazilian spoke on his on-field relationship with Zirkzee, also speaking on the Dutch striker’s situation at the club amid transfer rumours.
“Josh is a pleasure to play with. He has a lot of qualities. His situation is not good, but he has the quality to change it. He needs to understand this, and we want to count on him.
“We are here to push him. After the goal last week and the assist today, he will have more confidence to be with us and do his role.”
Cunha has lived up to expectations
After having scored just once by the time Matchweek 15 rolled around on December 8th, many fans would have been concerned as to whether Cunha could shoulder the responsibility of being a key player in the attack while the likes of Amad and Bryan Mbeumo were representing their national sides in AFCON.
Now, having scored three in his last five games, he’s proving to the Old Trafford faithful that he can be relied on to score the goals, especially in such a defensively minded team that was on show against Leeds.
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For many, however, it’s no surprise that Cunha has been able to almost single-handedly carry his new side in the absence of key players, especially Bruno Fernandes, who could be set for a lengthy spell on the sidelines. The Brazilian was Wolverhampton Wanderers’ talisman in his two-year spell at the Molineux, scoring 29 and assisting 13 goals in the Premier League for a team fighting to stave off relegation.
The deserved Player of the Match against Leeds will have to continue carrying his side in the absence of the likes of Fernandes, Amad and Mbeumo as Manchester United continue their charge for European football next season.
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