“He’s Not Helping Us”: Matheus Cunha Slams ‘Careless’ Teammate After Villa Park Meltdown
The post-match fallout from Manchester United’s 2-1 defeat to Aston Villa has turned from tactical critique into an all-out civil war.
While Ruben Amorim was busy dealing with locker room confrontations and Bruno Fernandes’ injury heartbreak, United’s goal-scorer on the day, Matheus Cunha, decided to pull no punches. Despite his own heroic effort to keep United in the game, the Brazilian forward was seen visibly fuming at the final whistle—and now we know why.
In a blistering assessment of the team’s performance, Cunha singled out one teammate whose “carelessness” allegedly cost United the match.
> “It was an easy game for us to win, but we lost because of his carelessness. He’s not helping the team at all. Sometimes I wonder why he is here.”
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The Stats of a Disaster: 8 Lost Possessions, 15 Times Bypassed
While Cunha didn’t explicitly name the player in his initial quote, the technical scouts and “data geeks” at Carrington didn’t have to look far to find the culprit. The spotlight has fallen squarely on Manuel Ugarte.
The Uruguayan midfielder, brought in to be the “engine room” of Amorim’s new system, had a statistical nightmare at Villa Park. According to post-match data, Ugarte’s performance was one of the most porous in recent Premier League history:
* Possession Lost: 8 times in critical midfield transition zones.
* Dribbled Past: A staggering 15 times—essentially allowing Morgan Rogers and the Villa midfield a “free pass” into the United final third.
* Duel Success: Won less than 30% of his ground challenges.
For a player whose entire reputation is built on being a “defensive wall,” these numbers aren’t just bad—they are a systemic failure.
Cunha’s Frustration: A One-Man Army?
Cunha’s anger stems from the fact that his equalizing goal just before half-time should have been the platform for a United comeback. Instead, every time United tried to build momentum, the midfield anchor seemed to drag them down.
Cunha was frequently seen throwing his hands up in the air as Morgan Rogers waltzed through the center of the pitch unopposed. By the time Rogers struck his second goal to seal the win, Cunha’s patience had completely evaporated.
The “Why is He Here?” Question
Cunha’s remark—”I wonder why he is here”—is perhaps the most damaging part of the outburst. It suggests a lack of belief not just in the player’s form, but in his fundamental suitability for the club.
With Casemiro suspended and Kobbie Mainoo sidelined, Ugarte was supposed to be the man to step up. Instead, his “carelessness” left a 19-year-old Ayden Heaven and a makeshift midfield of Lisandro Martinez (playing out of position) completely exposed to Villa’s onslaught.
A Club in Turmoil
This isn’t just one player’s opinion; it’s a symptom of a squad that is fracturing under the weight of Amorim’s high-intensity demands.
* Amorim has lost patience with the stars.
* Sesko is fighting the manager.
* Cunha is calling out his own teammates’ work rate.
The “Red Devil” locker room is currently a tinderbox, and the Villa Park defeat was the match that lit the fuse.
What’s Next for the “Careless” Star?
With the January transfer window looming, Cunha’s public call-out could be the final nail in the coffin. Reports suggest that Ruben Amorim is already looking at “emergency” midfield reinforcements, with Elliot Anderson and Adam Wharton being mentioned as potential targets to replace the underperforming Ugarte.
If you can’t protect the backline and you can’t keep the ball, you won’t last long in the Amorim revolution.
Would you like me to pull the full passing maps from the match to show exactly where those 8 lost possessions occurred?
The “no excuse” moment at Villa Park
This video provides a deep dive into the specific match highlights and the critical moments that led to Manchester United’s frustration during the loss to Aston Villa.
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