Wolves star Matheus Cunha has said that Gary O’Neil wants him to be ‘free’, in a clear suggestion that the manager doesn’t want to play the Brazilian as a lone central striker.
Cunha was on target again yesterday in the 1-1 draw with Nottingham Forest, equalising after a goal from Harry Toffolo.
Cunha scored after a great move involving Mario Lemina and Pablo Sarabia, and became only the fourth Brazilian player in Premier League history to score or assist in five consecutive Premier League games.
It was his fifth of the season, and his output is respectable considering he hasn’t always been playing in his preferred position.
After the draw yesterday, Cunha suggested that O’Neil does indeed want to drop him back a bit…
Matheus Cunha says Gary O’Neil wants him to be ‘free’ for Wolves
Cunha’s position has been a continued topic of conversation since he came to the club from Atletico Madrid at the start of the year.
Wolves signed him with a view to him playing as a striker, but occasionally playing out wide.
But £60,000-a-week star Cunha is not really an out-and-out number nine, with a lot of his success coming when he has played just off a main striker.
It was reported last month that O’Neil will look to prioritise the signing of a new striker in January, because he wants to get Cunha playing a bit deeper so he can make better use of his ball-carrying and link-up play.
After the draw with Forest, Cunha all but confirmed that O’Neil doesn’t really want him as a line-leading striker. He said: “I always understand my position, I always know he has the best for me, he always talks with me, and he wants to me to be free and I enjoy a lot to play like that, so I can help the group and help myself.”
The comments come after O’Neil said recently that he has been having ‘weekly battles’ with Cunha about his position.
A new striker could help take Cunha to the next level
It is interesting to hear this from Cunha, and it does suggest that O’Neil will indeed be hunting for that new striker in January. Or at least, stop playing Cunha right up top.
Hopefully, Wolves go into the second half of the season with someone leading the line who can score goals fairly regularly.
Cunha has been doing a terrific job, but it seems clear now that this is only really a temporary measure.
Cunha being given a free role could really see him thrive. He is an absolutely amazing ball carrier and has always shown great link-up play with those around him. He feels a little wasted sometimes when he is playing as a central striker.
It has always just been about the finishing with him – which admittedly has improved a lot recently. But it is surely the right thing to get him playing from a little bit deeper.