Rúben Amorim has admitted that one of his Manchester United stars will have to fight to win his place back after missing recent fixtures.
Manchester United’s positive run of form was underlined by their 2–1 victory over Crystal Palace. A below-par first half saw Rúben Amorim’s side go in behind at the break, but moments of quality from Joshua Zirkzee, Mason Mount, and Bruno Fernandes completed a second-half turnaround.
The result ended United’s long wait for a league win in London against a side other than Fulham, with their previous success coming back in January 2022. They now return to Old Trafford for Thursday evening’s clash with West Ham.
United head into the fixture looking up the table toward the Champions League positions, while their visitors remain locked in a battle at the other end. The Hammers are in the relegation zone ahead of the tie, three points behind 17th-placed Leeds United.
Amorim will be hopeful that the Palace comeback proves to be a turning point, helping to move past the disappointment of the Everton defeat and build momentum ahead of the festive fixture run.
Amorim feels Cunha can step up further
Matheus Cunha has missed the side’s last two fixtures due to a head injury, and although he’s been instrumental in wins against the likes of Liverpool and Brighton, he’s only notched one goals so far this season.
When discussing the Brazilian on Wednesday afternoon, Amorim admitted that he feels Cunha is yet to hit his highest level in Red, and that the player has been overly focused on his lack of goals.
“I think he has more levels to go,” Amorim told the press. “He is in a different club, different pressure, but I think he copes with that really well.
“He was struggling because he was not scoring and he was thinking too much about the numbers.
“The influence that he has in the team is so important for us, but I think Cunha has so much to grow defensively and offensively.”
Cunha will have to fight to return
While Cunha has been out injured, Mount’s “really clever” finish and overall performance at Selhurst Park has almost certainly put the latter ahead in the pecking order. When pressed for further comment about his ‘numbers’ claim, Amorim explained that he was referring to goals and assists.
The United head coach also admitted that Cunha was ‘not happy’, but in the best way, about seeing others perform in his favourite left-sided position, and that he has to right and take his chance when he can to regain his place.
“I put my players in problems sometimes when I say things [laughs]. What I mean is that I think he feels that he wants to score, he wants to assist, but he’s really happy playing the game,” Amorim continued.
“It is really important. I think he struggled with his two games out. He was struggling because he wants to play. He had fun playing the game, and that is so important in our team.
“Guys having fun, wanting the challenge, the pressure, he’s that guy. So, I think it was not good for him to stop playing. He watched a lot of players playing well, especially in his position, so he’s not happy, and tomorrow, maybe, he will have the opportunity to come back and to score again or assist.”
Amid rumours circulating that Zirkzee is facing a late fitness test ahead of the West Ham tie on Thursday evening, Cunha could find himself straight back in the starting XI and handed a lucky break to re-establish himself in the front line.
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