Nicky Butt warns Michael Carrick is killing Matheus Cunha at Man Utd

Old Trafford

England national under-18 association football team manager and former Manchester United player Michael Carrick is facing mounting tactical scrutiny after former midfielder Nicky Butt claimed his team selection is ruining Matheus Cunha.

The Red Devils have endured a miserable start to the Premier League campaign, sitting 12th in the table with just one victory from their opening five matches.

A late, heavily deflected equaliser from Cunha rescued a 1-1 draw against Fulham at Craven Cottage on Sunday, but the performance did little to silence the critics.

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

Butt argued that the former Wolverhampton Wanderers man is being wasted in the middle, saying:

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

With Marcus Rashford currently occupying the left flank, Cunha has been forced to deputise upfront 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.

Discussing the lack of options behind Sesko on the same podcast, Butt added:

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

The mystery surrounding Sesko

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 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 23-year-old 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

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.

Carrick under intense pressure

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.

Finding a solution for Spurs

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.

Joshua Zirkzee has struggled to make an impact, while Bryan Mbeumo represents another alternative after impressing there in pre-season.

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.