Matheus Cunha hails 'incredible' Ruben Amorim for 'big part' of Manchester United's resurgence under Michael Carrick

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Matheus Cunha has offered a measured assessment of Manchester United's revival, arguing that the club's resurgence owes as much to former head coach Ruben Amorim as it does to Michael Carrick, whose recent stewardship has steadied the side. Brazil forward Cunha said that Amorim was a major reason why he, alongside the likes of Bryan Mbeumo and Benjamin Sesko, joined the club.

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Matheus Cunha has claimed that the foundations for Manchester United's resurgence were laid not only by interim head coach Michael Carrick but also by predecessor Ruben Amorim.

While Amorim was relieved of his duties in early January after two wins in his final seven Premier League matches, his departure has seemingly not erased his influence at Old Trafford.

Carrick's appointment has coincided with a dramatic revival before the trip to Everton's new Hill Dickinson Stadium on Monday night.

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United are unbeaten in five matches, four of them victories, including statement triumphs over rivals Manchester City and league leaders Arsenal.

Cunha has been emblematic of the turnaround, most memorably scoring a late winner at the Emirates that stunned The Gunners and crystallised the renewed belief coursing through United.

In the churn of modern football, managerial change is often framed as a clean break between failure and resurgence. Yet at United, the narrative is more layered according to Cunha.

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The Brazilian forward is reluctant to let the story be simplified into a tale of one man replacing another.

"I’m very grateful for everything Ruben did," Cunha said in an interview with DAZN. "Despite everything it’s very easy, when things change, to look back at how things were previously as just negative.

"But it's quite the opposite; he was an incredible person. Many new players came because of him, so a big part of the good moment we’re experiencing is down to him, too."

Amorim's 14-month tenure unfolded during one of the most turbulent chapters in United's modern history - a campaign that delivered their worst season in more than half a century and only the second absence from European competition in 35 years.

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His commitment to a back-three system became a lightning rod for criticism, with detractors accusing him of tactical rigidity at a time when results faltered.

Cunha, however, suggests that the fixation on formation obscured the broader context. Under Carrick, he argues, the structural differences are less pronounced than many assume.

He continued: "The pressure for that tactic to work was so great that we forgot how simple the overall context was and focused too much on the negative.

"To be completely honest, I think stats in football are very misleading. We attack in different ways. We end up defending with the set-up that everyone says is Ruben’s formation."

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Rooney: Man Utd should not overlook Carrick

Wayne Rooney believes the club would be wise not to overlook interim head coach Carrick when considering a permanent appointment.

United’s all-time leading goalscorer and a former team-mate of Carrick argues that familiarity and temperament could prove more valuable than another high-profile overhaul. Speaking on The Overlap, he made the case plainly.

"We've been there and tried different managers. (Jose) Mourinho, (Louis) van Gaal, (Erik) ten Hag and (Ruben) Amorim. And, for me, Carrick makes sense," Rooney said.

"Not because we've played together and we're friends, but because he is a real calming influence.

"Having someone there who knows the club and cares for the club makes a big difference. Michael is managing the whole squad and managing them well."

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