MATHEUS CUNHA claims Manchester United and the Champions League belong together, but challenged the team to chase major trophies under Michael Carrick. Cunha’s opener in a frantic 3-2 win against fierce rivals Liverpool helped guarantee United’s return to Europe’s top table for the first time in two seasons.
And the Brazilian insisted that United must use this momentum to fight for major silver ware next season – with Carrick as manager. United’s first league double over Liverpool since the 2015-2016 season means the Red Devils cannot be overtaken by teams outside the top-five.
Carrick was in the line-up back in 2016, but from the dugout, he has now achieved the goal INEOS tasked him with when he replaced Ruben Amorim in January. Cunha, 26, said: “I don’t think it’s in my hands. But what he did, he’s full of confidence in the group.
“How he teaches everyone is amazing. I think he has the magic with like these Ferguson times, these kinds of things. Then he brings it to us.
“Teach us how it was, and to be part of everything, then he did this, it’s amazing, he’s a pleasure, and of course he deserves it.”
Cunha believes the Champions League will benefit from United’s presence. “The Champions League without this club is not the same competition and this club without the Champions League is not the same club.
“I am so happy to be part of helping the club back [into it]. But not only the Champions League, United need to fight for titles.
“This is the first [step] and of course we can become much stronger next season. And then we try to do what we think about.” Cunha borrowed a Spanish idiom to caution that United shouldn’t “get ahead of themselves,” before transitioning into a more philosophical take on his trademark surfboard celebration.
On his wave-riding lessons Cunha said: “It’s helped me so much. To be honest, I’ve improved a little bit. “My celebration, my friends in Brazil, every time they say ‘you need to paddle a bit more to surf.
“‘You cannot only surf, you need to paddle and then stand up on the surfboard’, they say.” Cunha has expressed a strong interest in surfing, stating that when he visits Brazil, he takes lessons in a small village near his home town
Three of Cunha’s nine Premier League goals for United have come against Chelsea ,Arsenal and Liverpool. Cunha said: “I feel like football represents life. Of course, [we] have hard moments and everyone needs to be strong. “We need to wait for the good moments and then work so hard. And I feel like it’s only the start of the journey.”
Ferguson, 84, was taken away from Old Trafford in an ambulance after suffering ahealthscare backstage following his arrival on Sunday.
Carrick said the win was for his former boss, who would have been delighted to see Carrick pick up 10 wins in 14 games since taking charge.
United wobbled at the start of the second half, throwing away a two-goal lead to be pegged back to 2-2. But they recovered and man of the match Kobbie Mainoo scored the winning goal to seal a famous victory.
