Matheus Cunha candidly opened up about the message that he sent to two Manchester United players ahead of the 4-2 win over Brighton on Saturday.
The 26-year-old Brazilian forward played a starring role for Ruben Amorim’s men and Matheus Cunha had a major impact for the Red Devils at Old Trafford.
Cunha started United’s match against Brighton in the Red Devils’ attacking set-up alongside fellow summer signings Benjamin Sesko and Bryan Mbeumo.
The former Wolves ace broke the deadlock with a superb finish from outside of the box in the 24th minute, with Brazil teammate Casemiro picking up the assist.
Cunha was a lively threat against Brighton in Ruben Amorim’s tactical system for United and showed his superb connection with Bryan Mbeumo and Benjamin Sesko.
The United summer signing’s performance came to an end in the 81st minute after Cunha was withdrawn and Manuel Ugarte was subbed on for the match.
Matheus Cunha explains what he told Man Utd duo Bryan Mbeumo and Benjamin Sesko before the match at Old Trafford
Matheus Cunha has impressed for the Red Devils this season, including during his performance for Manchester United against Liverpool at Anfield last Sunday.
However, the Brazil international had not scored in his first eight Premier League appearances for United in the 2025-26 campaign ahead of the Brighton match.
Cunha, who also played in United’s Carabao Cup defeat to Grimsby Town, admitted he talked to Bryan Mbeumo and Benjamin Sesko about his goalscoring drought.
“It is so hard to say something,” he told BBC’s Match of the Day, as per BBC Sport.
“I joked with Bryan [Mbeumo] and [Benjamin] Sesko, I told them I need to have this feeling [scoring], I felt so anxious to be a part of this and when I scored, they said, ‘Look, you can enjoy it now.’
“All [of] the day, the support for my teammates, I feel so good to be part of this.”
Matheus Cunha reveals his feelings during a nail-biting Man Utd moment against Brighton at Old Trafford
Goals from Cunha, Casemiro and Mbeumo had United leading Brighton 3-0 at Old Trafford in the second half before the Seagulls provided a late scare on Saturday.
Danny Welbeck pulled one back for Brighton with a stunning free-kick before Charalampos Kostoulas reduced the deficit further in second-half injury time.
Cunha insisted that the Red Devils need to handle their nerves better after Brighton came close to preventing United’s Premier League win on Saturday evening.
“We need to be a bit more calm next time,” he explained.
“We know the quality of Brighton; they always have hard games and, of course, they have the capacity to come back, but I think in the end, it is part of the game and the most important thing is in the end that we win.”
United managed to seal all three Premier League points on the weekend after Mbeumo completed his brace for the Red Devils deep into stoppage time.
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