Nicky Butt has had his say on Manchester United’s impressive start under interim head coach Michael Carrick as they chase a place in next season’s Champions League
13:24, 28 Jan 2026Updated 14:41, 28 Jan 2026
Nicky Butt feels sorry for Matheus Cunha at Manchester United(Image: The Good, The Bad and The Football)
Manchester United legend Nicky Butty has expressed sympathy for Matheus Cunha for his lack of starts so far under Michael Carrick. The Brazilian is yet to start in two games under United‘s interim head coach.
The Reds have been rejuvenated since Carrick succeeded Ruben Amorim until the end of the season. Wins over the Premier League top two, Manchester City and Arsenal, has seen optimism grow at Old Trafford as they chase Champions League qualification – a feat they have not achieved since the 2022/23 campaign under Erik ten Hag.
However, one player who may have been slightly frustrated is Cunha, after being restricted to substitute roles in recent games. The forward has been an excellent signing from Wolves in the summer – scoring five goals and providing two assists so far.
Cunha’s best moment in a United jersey so far was, without a doubt, scoring the winner against Arsenal on Sunday. But former Reds midfielder Butt believes Cunha will not have been happy with his role under Carrick so far – although he may now get more starts after Patrick Dorgu’s injury.
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Speaking on The Good, The Bad and The Football podcast, another Reds legend, Paul Scholes, firstly spoke about Dorgu’s situation and how Cunha is affected. The ex-midfielder said: “He [Dorgu] was brought in as a wing-back because that was Amorim’s system, but going back to when we were playing, wide players actually would help your full-back, and United have started doing that.
“Against Saka, who is their best attacker by a million miles, it was like playing against two left-backs at times because he was working back, but he’s scoring goals as well. I don’t see him there as a left winger full-time.
“Michael’s obviously seen something in him that he likes because he’s left Cunha out for him, and what a player he is.”
Butt then interjected. The 51-year-old said: “Cunha’s giving you an option off the bench and I do feel a bit sorry.”
Matheus Cunha scored Man United’s winner at Arsenal(Image: Marc Atkins/Getty Images)
Scholes added: “He won’t be happy with that, no chance, he won’t be happy with that sentence.”
Butt then said: “If you look when Darren [Fletcher] was in charge and he’s looking at his bench, he’s got no one to come on. You’ve got the young lads which is okay, they’re good players but when it’s going bad you need proper pros in that team who can come on the pitch, stick their chest out and go against people.
“He might find himself in a bad position now, Cunha, thinking, ‘I’m a really good sub to bring on, I carry the ball up the pitch, I get the fouls, kill the clock when we’re winning and I can score goals’, he could end up being a super sub.
“Also with the Cunha situation, I think Mbeumo has been brilliant as a nine. I think he’s done that job really, really well. He’s a handful, he’s powerful, he’s quick, you’re thinking Cunha might see himself on the bench for a good few weeks now.”
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