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100% dribbles, 3 key passes, 3 shots: Man United star spared Carrick’s blushes after late tactical tweak
Sep 20 2026 20:50 · By onefootball.com · 6 Reads
1
Manchester United rescued a point late on in their Premier League game against Fulham at Craven Cottage on Sunday.
However, it was yet another inept display from the visitors, whose abysmal fitness levels were once again evident.
The home side outran the Red Devils, both in terms of distance covered and number of sprints, as the United players continued jogging even after going a goal down.
Michael Carrick’s puzzling selection decisions continued as Marcus Rashford was deployed on the left flank yet again, while Matheus Cunha was forced to play as the false nine.
Cunha broke his duck as soon as he shifted to the left
That experiment has not worked all season, yet the head coach keeps persisting with it. Finally, when the Brazilian was moved to the left, he scored the equaliser.
The 27-year-old was a revelation down the left last season, yet Carrick chose to throw it all away to accommodate the Mancunian.
match stats from sofascore
The Englishman was an embarrassment in London on Sunday, but thankfully, the former Wolverhampton Wanderers ace spared Carrick’s blushes in the end.
The Brazil international managed three shots in total, with one of them hitting the crossbar, while Bernd Leno produced an incredible save to deny him with another low shot.
Carrick needs to play Matheus Cunha instead of Rashford
The United No.10 completed 100% of his dribbles as well as his long ball attempts. Not only that but he created one big chance from which Bruno Fernandes hit the post. The United attacker also made three key passes.
Off the ball, Matheus Cunha worked hard, completing one interception and recovering the ball twice. But he is wasted up top on his own, as seen from his 17% duel win rate (all stats via sofascore).
Carrick should deploy him out wide on the left from the next game and play Bryan Mbeumo up top, as was the case last season.
Whether the head coach gets to undo his mistakes considering the team’s start to this season remains to be seen, as INEOS consider their options heading into the three-week international break.
