Man Utd legend Nicky Butt says boss Michael Carrick is ruining Matheus Cunha

Manchester United head coach Michael Carrick is facing intense tactical scrutiny after club legend Nicky Butt claimed his team selection is damaging Matheus Cunha’s form.

The Red Devils have endured a difficult opening to the Premier League season, securing just one victory from their first five matches to sit 12th in the table.

A late, deflected equaliser from Cunha rescued a 1-1 draw against Fulham at Craven Cottage on Sunday, but the display did little to ease concerns.

Appearing on The Good, The Bad & The Football podcast, Butt expressed his deep frustration at seeing the Brazilian international deployed as a central striker.

Speaking on The Good, The Bad & The Football podcast, Butt said:

Playing Cunha as a nine kills him. He’s nowhere near the player he is off the side.

Butt questions Carrick’s tactical experiment

With Marcus Rashford currently occupying the left flank, Cunha has been forced to play through the middle due to a lack of alternative options.

First-choice striker Benjamin Sesko is currently sidelined with a shin injury, leaving Carrick with a major selection headache in the final third.

Butt was highly critical of the club’s squad depth, questioning why United are so reliant on a single centre-forward.

Butt also questioned the club’s reliance on a single fit striker, saying:

The biggest problem is the number nine. How can Man United have one centre forward?

The former midfielder also noted that summer signing Joshua Zirkzee has struggled to make an impact and does not look like a traditional United striker.

Skepticism over Sesko’s ongoing absence

The injury to Sesko, which has also ruled him out of the upcoming international matches for Slovenia, has drawn skepticism from other United legends.

Paul Scholes openly questioned the severity of the 23-year-old’s shin problem, which previously cut his debut season short by three matches.

Expressing his confusion on the same podcast, Scholes said:

How do you injure your shin? Ain’t that a broken leg? Can’t you just put your shin pads on?

The striker experienced discomfort in his shin when United suffered a Carabao Cup loss to Brighton at Old Trafford, having already sat out most of pre-season.

A squad lacking balance and depth

The issues at Old Trafford stretch far beyond the forward line, with Butt also taking aim at a fragile defensive unit.

While Luke Shaw made history last term by starting every single league match, his injury-prone nature remains a concern for the pundit.

Butt labelled the current back four as average and claimed that Lisandro Martinez lacks the physical dominance needed at this level.

He also suggested that veteran defender Harry Maguire is now past his best, leaving United vulnerable at the back.

The sluggish start is a stark contrast to the end of last season, when Carrick’s side outpaced Arsenal in points won after his January arrival.

Now, the former midfielder is struggling to manage a congested schedule brought on by Champions League qualification.

Summer signings have failed to ease the burden, with Carlos Baleba still injured and Andrey Santos playing only 83 minutes of league football.

Gary Neville also criticised the team’s work rate following the Fulham draw, pointing to a distinct lack of running from the players.

Despite the criticism, Cunha remains confident that the team can turn their fortunes around.

Speaking to reporters after the Fulham match, Cunha said:

Last season was my first season here, and then maybe it was more crazy than this one.

The Brazilian pointed out that United recovered from a slow start last year to finish third and secure Champions League football.

A crucial test against Tottenham awaits

Carrick must find a way to get Cunha back to his best, which may mean shifting him to the left and finding another central option.

Bryan Mbeumo represents another alternative after impressing there in pre-season, while Joshua Zirkzee remains an option.

United’s next test comes on October 10 against a Tottenham Hotspur side managed by Roberto De Zerbi, who currently sit bottom of the league.

Updated 4 October 2026, 10:17.