Matheus Cunha has paid tribute to Ruben Amorim, insisting the former Manchester United head coach deserves credit despite the team enjoying a revival under Michael Carrick.
Manchester United sacked Ruben Amorim at the beginning of January following an underwhelming run of results.
The team missed out on multiple chances to enter the top four over the festive period, but United’s 1-1 draw with Leeds at Elland Road proved to be Amorim’s final game in charge before being given his marching orders.
Prove me wrong: Michael Carrick has already shown enough to become permanent Man United manager.
13 points from 15 would be title winning form over a full season…
Two weeks later, Carrick was appointed head coach. A position he holds until the end of the season, but that could change given United have enjoyed an impressive run of results under the 44-year-old.
United are sitting fourth in the Premier League following four wins and one draw under Carrick. They are aiming to get back to winning ways when they travel to face Everton at the new Hill Dickinson Stadium on Monday night.
Matheus Cunha hails ‘incredible person’ Ruben Amorim
Although many United fans would argue that the recent results don’t reflect well on Amorim, Matheus Cunha has credited the Portuguese coach with helping lay the foundations at Old Trafford that have helped the team to transition under Carrick.
Cunha joined United from Wolves in the summer, so he only worked under Amorim for half the season before Ineos opted to dismiss the 40-year-old.
Despite results improving since Carrick’s return, Cunha has been quick to offer some praise to his former boss, who he hails as an ‘incredible person’.
“I’ve always been very grateful for everything Ruben did,” Cunha told DAZN.
“Think it’s easy, when things change, to see the past as only problems, but it’s quite the opposite, he was an incredible person.
“Many new players came because of him, so I think he also plays a big part in the success we are having now.”
Should Manchester United have sacked Ruben Amorim earlier this season?
Could we really have been title contenders?
Cunha suggests that Amorim played a big role in his arrival, having joined United in the summer, but the Brazil international has continued his impressive form under Carrick.
One of the biggest talking points during Amorim’s 14-month reign was his tactics and how vulnerable United looked in midfield, while insisting on having at least five defenders on the pitch.
However, Cunha believes too much was made of it, and the team defend in a similar shape under Carrick.
“The pressure for that tactic to work was so great that we forgot how simple the overall context was and focused too much on the negative,” he added.
“But, to be very honest, I think the numerology of football is very misleading.
“We attack in various ways and end up defending with the formation that everyone says is Ruben’s.”
Ruben Amorim spotted watching Carlos Alcaraz
Amorim has not made many public appearances since his United sacking.
But he was spotted in Doha on Thursday, taking in the action at the Qatar Open tennis championship.
Amorim was seen watching Carlos Alcaraz’s victory over Karen Khachanov.
The environment looked a lot more relaxed compared to the turmoil he experienced at Old Trafford.
Receive a digest of our best United content each week direct to your mailbox
