Nicky Butt warns Carrick that playing Cunha as a false nine is 'killing' the Brazilian

Manchester United legend Nicky Butt has taken aim at Michael Carrick’s tactical use of Matheus Cunha, insisting that deploying the Brazilian as a false nine is hampering his effectiveness and costing the club points in a stuttering start to the Premier League season.

Cunha joined United last summer when the club triggered his £62.5m release clause at Wolverhampton Wanderers, and the 27-year-old signed a five-year deal at Old Trafford. His debut campaign was a success — 10 goals and four assists helped United finish third and secure Champions League football — but he has managed only one goal and two assists so far this term.

With Benjamin Sesko sidelined through injury, Carrick has been forced to use Cunha through the middle. Butt, who made 387 appearances for United, argued on The Good, The Bad and The Football podcast that the position change is doing the forward a disservice.

“Playing Cunha as a nine kills him,” Butt said. “He’s nowhere near the player he is off the side. We haven’t got a No.9 other than Sesko other than Zirkzee, but he’s been going, staying, going, staying. And when he does come on, he doesn’t look anywhere near a Manchester United No.9.”

Butt’s criticism extended beyond the forward line. He questioned whether the current squad has the quality to challenge at the top of the table, describing the back four as “average” and suggesting Harry Kane is “past his best”. He also raised doubts about Luke Shaw’s fitness record and said Lisandro Martinez, while technically gifted, lacks the dominance required of a top centre-back.

“Midfield, we have good footballers but can’t dominate a game,” Butt added. “The right-back — is he going to get you into the top two, top three? No.”

United’s difficult start was underlined at Craven Cottage on Sunday, where they fell behind to a Fulham side that had begun the afternoon bottom of the Premier League. Cunha’s deflected effort in the 89th minute salvaged a point, leaving United with just five from their opening games.

Cunha himself remained upbeat after the draw, pointing to last season’s recovery as evidence that the squad can turn things around. “Last season was my first season here, and maybe it was more crazy than this one. There was a lot of noise around us, a season without Champions League, and now we’re in,” he said. “People were saying ‘Oh, United will go to the Championship’ or something like this. And then at the end of the day, we finished third. I feel like inside of us, we still have a lot of trust — all the belief is inside. But of course, I think it’s only the beginning, and we know we need to improve earlier.”