Why won’t Matheus Cunha pass to Patrick Dorgu?

Matheus Cunha has been one of the brightest spots in what is slowly becoming a dim season for Manchester United.

In the absence of Bruno Fernandes, Cunha continuously took matches by the scruff of the neck, and led the charge for the Red Devils in the attack. In many moments, he presented himself as the likeliest player to make something happen, to create something from nothing, and to score.

But for all that he’s done so well this season, he’s yet to find a sense of synchronization with a pretty key teammate – Patrick Dorgu.

For much of United’s Christmas period, Patrick Dorgu played on the wing opposite from Cunha. For more of the season, the Danish wing-back played on the same side as Cunha, operating up and down the left in United’s 3-4-2-1.

In theory, this combination of players works supremely well. Cunha loves to drive inside. Dorgu loves to sprint down the wing. Cunha loves to drift toward the middle. Dorgu’s much more direct down the touch-line.

They work as a pair in more than one way. Either as contrasting wingers who can each offer something different. Or as a pair down the same side, who, again, can each offer something different.

Embed from Getty Images

But for whatever reason, Cunha just does not want to pass the ball to Dorgu.

He wants to do it on his own. He wants to strike from distance. He wants to be the hero.

But he doesn’t seem to have much of a problem passing to his other teammates. There’s many moments where he threads a ball through for Benjamin Šeško when better options remain available. He plays nice and tidy combinations with Bruno or Mount. It just seems to be Dorgu. And I can’t understand why!

Brighton’s second goal against the Red Devils today was calamitous. But moments before that goal, we see exactly this problem. Cunha drives at the Brighton defense, directly at the full-back.

In any scenario, this should open plenty of space for Cunha to play the ball into space for Dorgu. As the Brighton players chase back, they see it too.

In the middle of the pitch, five Brighton players prepare to swarm the ball. Dorgu on the other hand, is free. And if a pass is made, that full-back MUST follow, thus leaving space for Cunha to run into.

Instead of playing the pass, Cunha keeps running. No problem. Now he’s closer to goal. Dorgu’s still completely available for a pass. It’s the perfect time now. The full-back has committed to him. Dorgu’s completely free. All Cunha has to do is play the pass into space.

So what does he do? He dribbles at those five Brighton players, and loses the ball.

Dorgu can’t believe it. And who could blame him?

Brighton score moments later.

Embed from Getty Images

This is not the first time that this has happened this season. It’s not even the tenth!

Here’s another.

Patrick Dorgu storms through the Burnley defense, opening space for Cunha to receive in the middle.

Cunha continues to dribble, almost pausing the moment so that Dorgu can make the overlap. Now Dorgu’s done it, and ready to receive in space. The Brazilian’s taken three (even four) defenders with him, and now Dorgu is free.

And instead, Cunha shoots the ball.

Hide your eyes, United fans. This one’s going to hurt.

Here’s Matheus Cunha driving at the defense. We all love this from the Brazilian.

But check out the other side of the pitch, wide open for a switch: Patrick Dorgu.

If Cunha plays the ball now, Dorgu’s through on goal. No stopping him and only a finish to provide.

But Cunha wants to do it himself. He wants the magic moment.

So he keeps going. Now he’s got three defenders ready to block his cross, but the Dane remains a good option at the back-post if the Brazilian can find him. Not just a good option, in fact. A goal-scoring one.

Cunha shoots again.

Just as he does in this moment when he can whip in a cross.

Or in this moment where he again has Dorgu in acres of space down the wing.

As he does in this moment, where he’s 30 yards out.

This is one of Cunha’s greatest strengths. But it’s also one of his greatest weaknesses as a United player.

He simply wants to be the hero all the time. That’s great in giving United a constant game-breaking threat in their attack. It’s great in giving United more of an ‘X factor’ in the final third.

Embed from Getty Images

But it’s not so great when he’s ignoring the runs of his teammates. It’s not great when he could play a pass and receive it seconds later in a better position.

Matheus Cunha needs to figure this out, without taking away from the brilliance he can provide in attack. He’s got everything United need to get them out of this difficult spell. But he can’t do it alone.

---

Thanks for reading and see you soon!