Gary O’Neil has admitted he is in a ‘weekly battle’ with Matheus Cunha regarding his best position at Wolves.
The Brazilian was on target for Wanderers in yesterday’s 2-1 defeat to Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium in the Premier League.
Wolves went to north London without Mario Lemina and Joao Gomes, with both midfielders suspended after picking up their fifth bookings of the season against Fulham.
Their absence was likely always going to be felt, and Wolves struggled without their energy and tenacity.
Arsenal were comfortably the better side and it really felt at times like Wolves were missing the pressing and ball-winning of Lemina and Gomes.
In the end though, it was fairly close thanks to Matheus Cunha scoring late on. But that goal did ultimately come just a bit too late.
Cunha was probably Wolves’ best player on the day – and O’Neil made an interesting remark after the match about the South American…
Gary O’Neil admits he’s in a ‘weekly battle’ with Matheus Cunha over his position at Wolves
Following the loss, O’Neil called Cunha ‘a top player’. It is not the first time O’Neil has piled praise on the 24-year-old, and it’s clear the manager rates him pretty highly.
Cunha is having a solid season, despite not really operating in his favoured position.
O’Neil is aware that Cunha prefers to play off a main striker, rather than as one himself, and admitted after the game that he and the player are constantly talking about his role.
He said (Wolves official): “We always have this trade-off between me and Matheus about him playing in the structure and playing where I need him, while allowing him to be free enough to go and express himself.
“It’s a weekly battle with that one, as I try to get my side into him and he still has his side, but I thought he was good today.”
O’Neil stated recently that he has had some ‘fascinating conversations’ with £44 million signing Cunha about team structure, suggesting he had wanted the Brazilian to stop dropping deep as much and operate more as a number typical number nine.
Cunha’s role could change after January
It’s very interesting to hear O’Neil admit he and Cunha are constantly in dialogue over his best position. There is a suggestion here that the pair are sometimes at odds.
But clearly, there are no issues between the two, even if Cunha would prefer to play a slightly different role.
It was reported recently that O’Neil is going to prioritise signing a new out-and-out striker in January so that he can drop Cunha back a bit and have him in a free role more often.
That plan makes sense, because Cunha is a terrific ball carrier, a quality that becomes a bit redundant when he plays right up top.
Cunha also works his socks off and is pretty good at winning the ball back for a forward, so his industry is another reason why he should be playing behind a main striker.
Hopefully, Wolves can get someone in in the next window and the signing will be a complete gamechanger for Cunha.