Michael Carrick warned Man Utd tactics are ‘killing’ £62m star as Wayne Rooney suggests drastic move

Carrick has a major dilemma to solve up front (Picture: Alan Martin/Shutterstock)

Michael Carrick has been warned he is ‘killing’ Manchester United star Matheus Cunha by playing him out of position this season.

United’s failure to bring in centre forward cover has seen the United boss turn to Cunha to lead his attack with Benjamin Sesko’s injury problems continuing this season.

Sesko missed the entire pre-season campaign with a shin injury with Cunha starting up top in each of United’s five Premier League matches this season. The Slovenia international has suffered a recurrence of that same issue, meaning Carrick may continue using the Brazil international in a more advanced role following the international break.

Cunha, a £62million signing from Wolves in 2025, has largely played off the left since arriving at Old Trafford, at his best driving at the opposition facing goal.

Marcus Rashford has taken up his regular position on the left of attack but United legend Butt feels the change to the system is having a huge negative impact on Cunha’s game.

‘Paying Cunha as a nine kills him,’ Butt told The Good, The Bad and The Football. ‘He’s nowhere near the player he is off the side. We haven’t got a no9 other than Sesko other than Zirkzee, but he’s been going, staying, going, staying. And when he does come on, he doesn’t look anywhere near a Manchester United no9.

Former United captain Wayne Rooney meanwhile is also eager for Cunha to move wide once again, suggesting Marcus Rashford should be pushed through the middle in Sesko’s absence.

Cunha has played as a centre forward this season (Picture: Carl Recine/Getty Images)

‘For me, Cunha is better on the left,’ Rooney told The United Stand on The Overlap. ‘Playing with your back to goal is so difficult.

‘When you are playing out wide and you receive the ball, your head is turned. and Cunha’s best attribute is driving with the ball.

‘I would have changed it a few weeks ago, I would have Cunha off the left, and while there is no no9 I would rather have Rashford than Cunha.’

United have tried to sell Zirkzee the last two windows (Picture: Lewis Storey – Danehouse/Getty Images)

Rooney also floated the idea of handing the much-criticised Joshua Zirkzee the role up top – on the provision he stops needlessly giving the ball away in deeper positions.

‘Zirkzee is actually a very technically good player,’ Rooney continued. ‘There are other things around his game where he is not so good and I and the fans get frustrated with the flicks he does.

‘I’d stay to him, “you’re going to start, if I see you f*****G flick the ball once you’re coming off. All I want you to do is get on the ball and link it with your midfield and wide players. That’s all. If you do it on the halfway line your coming off”.’

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