Manchester United forward Matheus Cunha has expressed strong belief that interim manager Michael Carrick possesses the “magic” to reignite the club’s connection to its trophy-laden Sir Alex Ferguson era. This sentiment comes as Manchester United secured a crucial 3-2 victory over rivals Liverpool at Old Trafford, an achievement that guarantees their qualification for the Champions League with three games remaining in the season.
Resurgence Under Carrick
The win over Liverpool was a significant performance, exceeding expectations for many observers of the club. Football director Jason Wilcox had previously stated that a return to Europe’s elite club competition was a primary objective following the dismissal of Ruben Amorim in January. Carrick has overseen a remarkable turnaround, amassing 10 victories in his 14 matches in charge, positioning him as the frontrunner for the permanent managerial role.
Carrick, a former player under Sir Alex Ferguson, was an integral part of the last dominant United side, securing five Premier League titles and a Champions League trophy. Cunha highlighted the importance of this connection to the club’s successful past.
Connecting Past and Present
“I sat on the bench with him,” Cunha shared. “How he teaches everyone is amazing. He has the magic with these Ferguson times. Then he comes and brings it to us, teaches us how it was, to be part of everything. Then he did this.” He added, “It’s amazing. He’s a pleasure. Of course, I think he deserves it.”
Despite achieving the immediate goal of Champions League qualification, Carrick has emphasized that the squad cannot afford to become complacent. United still requires four points to definitively secure a top-three finish, a feat they have only managed four times since Ferguson’s retirement in 2013. Furthermore, they have the potential to finish with a point differential of fewer than 12 points behind the eventual champions, which would be their closest performance to the league leaders post-Ferguson, achieved under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer in the 2020-21 season.
Ambitions Beyond Qualification
“It’s one of the biggest privileges I have to play at this club,” Cunha stated. “The Champions League without this club is not the same competition, and this club without Champions League is not same club.” He stressed the need for further ambition: “But it is not only the Champions League. We need to fight for the titles. This is the first one [step]. We could come much stronger for next season.”
Casemiro’s Future Uncertain
The upcoming summer is anticipated to bring significant changes at Old Trafford, including the potential departure of Brazilian international Casemiro. While Casemiro has publicly indicated his intention to leave, and Carrick reinforced this in recent media interactions, Cunha expressed a degree of uncertainty based on his close relationship with the midfielder.
“It’s so easy to talk about him,” Cunha said of Casemiro. “I know how important he is. He’s an amazing guy. There is a strong part of him outside the pitch. He’s so lovely and so friendly. He teaches me.” He added, “We don’t know in the end how it is with his contract. Of course, everyone hopes there’s a little bit more. I know it’s harder than we talked about, but, in the end, you never know.”
Cunha’s Impact and Celebrations
Cunha himself has justified the £62.5 million investment made by Manchester United last summer, a transfer where he was a priority target. His significant personality has seemingly allowed him to adapt seamlessly to the pressures of a club of United’s stature. His goal against Liverpool marked his ninth of the season, with several being crucial match-winners under Carrick, including strikes against Arsenal and Chelsea.
The forward has also become known for his distinctive “surfing” goal celebration. His celebration against Liverpool saw him race away, pursued by teammates, before diving and then rising to mimic surfing. “I’ve improved my celebration a little bit,” he admitted. “Every time, my friends in Brazil every time say, ‘you cannot only surf, you have to paddle and stand up on the surfboard’. I said OK, I’ll try to improve.” He sees it as an expression of his joy: “It’s part of my life; to bring this into football and show everyone how happy I am to play football and surf. I have to do it.”
Looking Ahead
The successful Champions League qualification sets a positive trajectory for Manchester United, but the focus now shifts to maintaining momentum and building a squad capable of challenging for titles. The club’s transfer strategy and the resolution of key player futures, such as Casemiro’s, will be critical in determining their competitiveness next season. The continued development under Carrick, if appointed permanently, will be closely watched to see if he can indeed translate his perceived “magic” into sustained success, bringing Manchester United back to the pinnacle of English and European football.
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