Gary Neville could not believe what he saw during Manchester United’s narrow Premier League defeat to Aston Villa
Jim Quinlan Sport Trends Writer
19:43, 21 Dec 2025Updated 19:46, 21 Dec 2025
Manchester United forward Matheus Cunha is picked up by his teammates after missing a close chance vs Aston Villa
Manchester United legend Gary Neville says Matheus Cunha had ‘no excuse’ to miss his second-half header from close range – an opportunity that would have drawn his team level for the second against Aston Villa.
Cunha had already levelled the scoring on the stroke of half-time, moments after Morgan Rogers had struck to hand Villa the advantage. United‘s failure to deal with their hosts then saw the Englishman restore the lead at 2-1 with 32 minutes left on the clock.
And again, shortly afterwards United’s No.10 was presented with the chance to grab a second equaliser. With the freedom of the six-yard box, Cunha mishit a headed effort into the turf and it bounced the wrong side of the post.
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“Oh my goodness,” Neville responded on commentary duty for Sky Sports, adding: “You will have to go a long way to see a worse miss than that.
“[It] had to be a goal. It’s an absolutely brilliant pass from [Mason] Mount and a wonderful cross from [Patrick] Dorgu. On a plate.
“He’s got no excuse, Cunha, he has to score.”
The Brazilian looked devastated that he had not managed to convert the opportunity, lying face down on the turf before his teammates arrived to pick him up both literally and figuratively.
After his miss, United were still unable to muster a successful response in the time that remained and therefore lost the opportunity to move level on points with fourth-placed Chelsea following their slip-up at Newcastle United over 24 hours earlier.
Adding comment at full-time, Roy Keane added: “This is where football drives you mad.
“Absolutely brilliant delivery, as soon as it leaves his foot you’re thinking [this is going to be a goal], and then there’s no logic to it. We can’t even explain it.
“We were saying here it is easier than a penalty. He’s got five, six yards. Only the player maybe could explain it, whether he’s lost concentration as it’s coming onto his head?
“Sometimes for a player it is too easy. On target and it’s a goal. Another big moment for United.”
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