Ben Foster has singled out a key detail from Michael Carrick’s first game in charge of Manchester United, including appraisal for his usage of Matheus Cunha.
Following a difficult run of form, Manchester United put their hopes in their newly-appointed interim manager, Michael Carrick, for the Manchester derby.
This was a huge success for the Reds as they strolled to a 2-0 victory, which helped to catapult Carrick’s side up to fifth in the Premier League, only one point behind fourth.
Having moved back to a more traditional 4-2-3-1 system, the Reds looked far more impressive and even managed to keep the league’s top scorer, Erling Haaland, quiet.
Following United’s victory, ex-Red Ben Foster has spoken on Carrick’s debut on the touchline and highlighted one key detail, regarding Matheus Cunha, that impressed the former shot-stopper.
Carrick’s bold decision
Speaking on his podcast, via United in Focus, Foster stated that Carrick’s impressive start to life at Old Trafford started before the game had even kicked off.
“Do you know what? It started before the game,” said Foster.
“Michael Carrick was doing an interview with Gary Neville and, obviously, [with] Cunha being on the bench, he made a point of saying, ‘What do you think about, what’s your thinking with having Cunha on?’
“And he said, along the lines of basically, for me, the players that come on can have as much of an impact on the game as the players that start the game.
“And he’s right, you know. He is actually the finisher.
“If you can come on when your team are in a position of either level in the game or even one up and bring them good players on there who are really going to stretch it and really going to ask questions of the opposition when they’re tired, that is worth its weight in gold.”
Cunha finding his role?
Cunha produced an impressive cameo off the bench against City at the weekend, and was unlucky to have his second assist chalked off due to a very close offside call.
Despite some good performances, Cunha’s start to life at Old Trafford hasn’t gone exactly to plan, although, begrudgingly, he may be better suited off the bench for now.
One of the key attributes of the Brazilian’s game is his ability to drive with the ball, often pushing his side up the field, although he has struggled to do this as often as he used to for Wolves.
Coming on in the second half of games against tired legs, where he can get back to his basics, may suit Cunha for the moment, whilst he is still trying to find his role at Old Trafford.
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