Ruben Amorim has thrown down the gauntlet to summer signing Matheus Cunha, suggesting the Manchester United forward still has plenty of room for improvement.
Cunha was United’s first signing of the summer transfer window, the Brazil international joining from Wolves after his £62million release clause was triggered.
The forward enjoyed an eye-catching season at Molineux, scoring 15 goals and registering six assists in 33 Premier League matches.
Cunha is yet to get off the mark for his new club, but delivered his best performance in a United shirt last weekend to help the Red Devils stun Liverpool at Anfield.
However, Amorim has urged Cunha not to rest on his laurels and challenged the forward to deliver those kinds of performances on a weekly basis going forward.
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‘He brings something that is hard for us to point [at], it’s not just the ability and the talent,’ Amorim told MUTV when asked about Cunha’s start to life at United.
‘He has something that he is really comfortable playing in this kind of environment. He can take our team forward.
‘He needs to improve a lot of things, especially defending, but he has something special and he is a really important player for us.
‘He can play in different positions, so I expect the same in the next game because, in our club, it’s really important to show it in every week.’
Speaking earlier in the month, Cunha recognised that there is pressure on his shoulders to hit the ground running after the big fee that was forked out by United to secure his services in the summer.
‘I try as much as possible to adapt, to learn… it’s only been two months [since joining Manchester United], but it feels like I’ve been here for a long time because of the club’s current situation,’ he told Globo Esporte.
‘I have to get results as quickly as possible because I’m a [big] signing… all of this helps a lot to find the adaptation faster and feel as good as possible in the national team.’
Cunha continued: ‘What I was searching for as a person more than anything else, I’m slowly finding.
‘You constantly want to improve. That’s innate in human nature, but I can’t help but stop and enjoy this moment.
‘Feeling privileged to wear the jersey of the greatest national team in the world, one of the greatest clubs in the world… it’s a spectacular personal moment.
‘I have an incredible family, another little girl now, everyone is doing well and feeling healthy. I’m enjoying all of this in a positive way.’
Cunha is expected to start again for United against Brighton on Saturday as Amorim’s side look to make it three wins on the bounce in the league.
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