Carrick wants Cunha to repeat Roma heroics as United host Villa in must-win clash

Matheus Cunha rescued Michael Carrick’s Manchester United with a two-goal, match-winning performance against Roma in the Champions League on Tuesday, only to be sent off in injury time — leaving the Brazilian available for Sunday’s Premier League visit of Aston Villa at Old Trafford but suspended for the subsequent trip to Lisbon to face Sporting CP.

United were 2-0 down at half-time and Carrick’s position looked precarious before Cunha almost single-handedly turned the tie around. The 27-year-old won the penalty from which Bruno Fernandes began the comeback, equalised himself, and then set up the winner — all while playing with a frenzied intensity that eventually earned him a second yellow card for a late challenge deep in stoppage time.

The red card was hardly a surprise. Cunha had spent the second half operating on the edge, smashing a ball into the stands to rouse supporters after winning the penalty, and ripping off his shirt and crowd-surfing after his equaliser. When the final whistle came, he perched on the advertising hoardings with one leg crossed over the other, watching the celebrations unfold from the stands.

Sunday’s match against Villa will be Cunha’s 50th appearance for the club, and Tuesday marked the first time he has scored more than once in a game since his £62.5 million move from Wolves. Carrick, whose job appeared in serious jeopardy before the comeback, now needs a second win in a week to secure his position beyond the international break.

“He has to repeat that performance. He was fantastic and that’s close to his best, and that’s the level we want to see, not just him, from the team,” Carrick said.

One complication is finding Cunha a settled role. Signed originally to fill one of the two No.10 positions in Ruben Amorim’s 3-4-2-1, he has been without a natural home since Carrick reverted to a back four. He spent much of last season on the left wing before beginning this campaign as a false nine, and against Roma he played a hybrid of both in the second half.

Carrick suggested that giving Cunha more freedom across the front line could be the key to unlocking those performances consistently. “I think the beauty of Matheus is he can play different positions across the front line,” he said. “He’s played off the left for us and did ever so well last season. He’s played through the middle at times.” Whether a defined role or deliberate flexibility proves the answer, United need their Brazilian talisman firing again when Villa arrive at Old Trafford.