Michael Owen has praised a Manchester United star following the club’s 3-1 win against Aston Villa on Sunday afternoon.
Michael Carrick continued his impressive start as Manchester United head coach on Sunday afternoon by beating Unai Emery’s Aston Villa 3-1.
After a rather unspectacular first half, Casemiro put United ahead before Villa found an equaliser through Ross Barkley.
After Villa’s equaliser, United stamped their authority on the game. Matheus Cunha restored the lead following a brilliant pass from Bruno Fernandes. Benjamin Šeško once again made an impact off the bench and scored United’s third and final goal of the afternoon.
This win sees United take a massive step towards Champions League qualification. Carrick’s men are now three points ahead of an out-of-form Aston Villa and six points ahead of Liam Rosenior’s Chelsea, who lost on Saturday to Newcastle United.
Owen praises Cunha and United’s style of play
Michael Owen praised Matheus Cunha after his impressive goal, which put United ahead of Villa. It was a good run in behind, followed by a composed finish into the bottom far corner.
On Cunha’s goal, Owen said: “Matheus Cunha’s goal? He’s just all class, and this is Manchester United at their best, breaking reasonably quick.”
After a tumultuous 14 months under Rúben Amorim, a manager with next to no understanding of how a United team should play, it is refreshing to see United play free-flowing, attacking football again.
Unlike Amorim, who was steadfast in sticking to his flawed and ineffective system, Carrick has opted for a common-sense approach.
Players are playing in their best positions and have more freedom than they did under Amorim. It’s not perfect, especially out of possession, but Carrick’s reign has hammered home how much Amorim was holding United back.
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Cunha has an X-factor
When Cunha joined United, he probably would’ve been hoping for more than seven goals by March, especially considering he scored fifteen for Wolves last season.
There have been games where he needed to do more, but he has an X-factor and arrogance associated with United players.
Even though he’s only scored seven goals, some of those have been very important and earned United crucial points, particularly that wonder strike against Arsenal at the Emirates.
Given the type of player he is, he probably isn’t going to be starting every week in a team that plays a back four. However, he possesses immense quality and offers a manager tactical flexibility. He can play as the No. 10 if Fernandes is ever absent, and if United have an attacking left-back who provides width, Cunha playing off the left is a serious threat.
He is also brilliant when playing as a false nine, a role he fulfilled to near-perfection against Liverpool at Anfield. He is also someone who can certainly make an impact off the bench, as seen on a few occasions this season.
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