Ferdinand: Cunha is ready to 'catch fire' for United after Roma heroics

Rio Ferdinand has declared that Matheus Cunha is poised to "catch fire" for Manchester United following his match-winning brace in the Champions League clash against Roma. According to Metro ^[1], the pundit and former defender suggested the Brazilian striker could use this pivotal performance as a springboard for the remainder of the season.

Michael Carrick’s side, who had been enduring a painful nine-game winless run, staged a dramatic comeback at Old Trafford to secure a 3-2 victory over the Serie A outfit. The Mirror ^[2] reported that Cunha scored two goals in the final ten minutes, transforming a deficit into celebration, having previously contributed little in the early stages of the campaign.

Ferdinand, speaking on his YouTube channel, admitted he had not seen enough consistency from the £62.5million signing. "I think for Cunha this could be liftoff where he starts to catch fire," Ferdinand told Metro ^[1]. He acknowledged that while Cunha showed glimpses of brilliance last season, he had yet to fully justify the investment. "You see moments, and you go, 'Oh, look at that, that’s why we paid the big money for him', but not enough," he added.

The former United centre-back praised Cunha’s intensity off the ball, noting that hard work and graft had won over the home crowd. However, he also pointed out Cunha's late dismissal as a moment of immaturity, urging the player to channel that energy more consistently. "He was chasing, he was harrying... but the intention that he had all through the game... set him up to put him in a position to be able to have that chance and finish," Ferdinand said.

Cunha himself acknowledged the weight of expectation at the club. In comments shared by the Mirror ^[2], the striker stated: "Being part of this, I have a responsibility... I need to be this kind of guy – to have the responsibility in the hard moments and the good moments. I always need to show up and be there for nights like today."

Beyond Cunha, Ferdinand also highlighted the crucial role of Kobbie Mainoo, who returned from injury to anchor the midfield. With Carlos Baleba sidelined by a hamstring issue, Ferdinand argued that keeping Mainoo fit is essential for United’s hopes. "You need to make him a centrepiece of this team, and the data’s telling you that he has huge importance for this team if we’re going to go and do anything and win any games," Ferdinand concluded.