Wolves manager Gary O’Neil has reaped the benefits of Matheus Cunha this season, getting the best out of the Brazilian after his slow start at Molineux.
Wolves have seen the best out of Matheus Cunha this season after spending £44m on the forward to make his move from Atletico Madrid permanent.
The Old Gold had an obligation to buy the Brazil international who at the time of his move being made permanent, had not shown his full potential at Molineux.
Arriving from Atletico in January 2023, the 24-year-old frustrated many with his incredibly direct yet fairly inefficient play, seeing him struggle for confidence in front of goal under Julen Lopetegui.
In his first season at Wolves, Cunha scored two goals in 17 Premier League appearances, with the narrative of his play being an expert creator with no end product.
Confidence would have played a significant role in the Brazilian’s lack of conviction in front of goal however, his struggles in 2022/23 are truly a thing of the past thanks to the belief of Gary O’Neil.
Gary O’Neil has transformed the form of Matheus Cunha at Wolves
While the quality that Cunha possesses has never been questioned, it seemed during his first season at Wolves that the 24-year-old was crying out for some guidance rather than simply the expectation to put the ball in the net.
Speaking to Sky Sports last year, O’Neil touched upon some conversations he’d had with the forward, asking more of the attacker with advice he is said to have taken “exceptionally well”.
“Every time the ball is crossed I need my No 9 to be a threat. You have to be. OK, Matheus Cunha does this and this really well but he has to do this. You have to.”
“People actually watching the game will see that he came off the front, did a little turn, popped it to the winger. Great. But how many goals has he got? How many assists has he got? I am trying to work with him on that, which he takes exceptionally well.”
O’Neil’s guidance of the £44m forward has worked wonders, with his building in confidence handing him more importance to the squad as the goals have flowed this term.
One interesting statistic that highlights the Brazilian’s improvement is how the frequency of him missing big chances has dropped, having missed only five in 24 Premier League games compared to the four he missed in only 11 appearances in 2022/23 La Liga, via Sofascore.
Matheus Cunha has become an integral part of Wolves’ squad
The shift in Cunha’s conviction in front of goal can be attributed to the manager’s belief and trust in him to improve.
Now with nine Premier League goals and six assists in 24 appearances in the Premier League this season, O’Neil is getting the best out of his striker, striking a happy balance by understanding what makes the £60k-a-week gem tick.
It’s never just been about goals with Cunha, with the most dazzling part of his game being his “dangerous” ability in possession, as he was lauded by Gary Lineker earlier this season.
As highlighted by O’Neil, goals aren’t everything but they are needed in some capacity for a player that enjoys playing as advanced as Wolves’ number 12.
With the playmaking and goalscoring element now installed in his game, the Old Gold are seeing the price they paid for the former Atletico star repaid, with a lot to thank the manager for when it comes to revitalising the player’s confidence.