Matheus Cunha flanked Ruben Amorim for Man United’s maiden press conference of their pre-season tour in the United States.
Cunha spoke at a press conference on Friday
Matheus Cunha led Ruben Amorim into the room at Soldier Field. A minor observation but one that highlights the confidence with which he has settled in at Manchester United.
Leading from the front is expected of the United No.10 dating back beyond the first permanent recipient of that squad number, Mark Hughes. Amorim acknowledged Cunha could also play up front in the absence of a new striker.
There was a breeziness about Cunha one seldom encounters with a new United signing that speaks. They can be stilted, reluctant or shielded from the press. It spoke volumes that Cunha was picked to flank Amorim for his first United press engagement. He spoke enthusiastically and engagingly.
“I’m part of the group already,” Cunha said, “and everything that I can bring to help the team to go forward I’m very humble to do, because I think this is the most important point right now
“I am maybe around two weeks already with the group, it’s pre-season, there’s a lot of physical things to do also. But yeah, I feel completely fine with all the tactics, everything, and every time he can give a little bit of time to explain to me some new things, so it’s kind of very important to be new and then to adapt.
“But I think with the time, everything will go off and then everyone will show what we do.”
Cunha is a polyglot, which has eased his transition. He was conversing with Luke Shaw during training before Bruno Fernandes fixed the GPS tracker in his training top.
Amorim was always bound to field more questions yet Cunha’s assuredness suggested he would have been at ease approaching the dais without his new coach. His English was fluent and delivered with a charm that belied the spikiness that caused Cunha to miss six games last season through ill-discipline. Cunha’s wife gave birth to their second child last week and he did radiate that bliss a father feels, however much he must miss his newborn daughter.
Cunha shouldered the pressure in a Wolves team dependent on him to retain their Premier League status last season. ‘Scrutiny’ was mentioned in a question posed to him as it will be tenfold at United. Cunha was blasé about that.
“I really think the pressure of this club is not really pressure,” he opined. “It’s between a privilege, because this is one of the biggest clubs in the world, and like I say, when Ruben comes to me and shows all the pressure that I have to put the club in the perfect times again, I feel like it’s a challenge that I want to do for my career.
Cunha speaks to the press
“And for me, United is always one of the clubs that need to be there, and for someone that can be part of the process is something that, like I say, is a big privilege.
“So I don’t think about being perfect at the start, honestly, I think to be myself and help the team. But of course, the first time I start to feel I’m part of the group, we start to do everything very well, and then think about doing everything well.
“So I’m very comfortable to be here, I’m very comfortable with the press right now, and honestly, I hope everything can be better, too. Don’t think about the wrong time.”
Cunha joined United for £62.5m
Amorim made a beeline for Cunha after Wolves won at Old Trafford in April and the Brazilian admitted he had a bearing on his decision to choose United.
“He is a big part of this kind of decision,” Cunha clarified. “Like I said, United was always a major club and when you can make a dream come true, it’s an easy decision to make.
“But of course, like everything inside of the club, he was one of the big parts. He talked to me always and showed how important I am to him. And of course, I fell very in love with that. And it’s easy to make a choice after everything.“
Cunha tallied 15 Premier League goals last season – almost twice as many as United’s leading league scorer, Fernandes. The only United signing who tallied that amount in his first full campaign this decade was Cristiano Ronaldo.
Cunha made his first United appearance in Sweden
Cunha did not sound like the task was onerous. “Of course, like a striker, everyone thinks about scoring goals, something that is the most important thing in football, to score goals, help the team. And I completely understand the situation, but I think every single detail that I can do to help the team, for me, will be important, like scoring goals.
“You know, of course, like I say, scoring goals is the most important part of the game. I come here, I understand everything. It can be part of my game to come in: goals, assists, and then everything around this.
“I feel comfortable. I hope I can do my best. And of course, I hope in the end we can talk about many goals and I score.”
Leading from the front of the goals tally would be an achievement.