Michael Carrick, the interim manager of Manchester United, has come under scrutiny for his decision to deploy Matheus Cunha in a central attacking role rather than his preferred left flank position. This shift has raised concerns among former players and pundits, who believe it is affecting Cunha’s performance. The move has been necessitated by United’s lack of a reliable centre forward, especially with Benjamin Sesko sidelined due to recurring shin injuries. Sesko missed the entire pre-season and has faced setbacks again, forcing Carrick to rely on Cunha in a more advanced role. Cunha, who joined United from Wolves in a £62 million deal in 2025, has primarily operated on the left since his arrival. He is at his most effective when driving forward from the left flank, creating chances and threatening opposition defenses. However, with Marcus Rashford now occupying the left attacking spot, Cunha has been moved into a central role. Former United legend Paul Butt has criticized this change, arguing that playing Cunha as a central striker is not working well for him. "Paying Cunha as a nine kills him," Butt said. "He's nowhere near the player he is off the side." Wayne Rooney, another former United captain, has echoed similar sentiments, suggesting that Cunha should return to the left wing where he thrives. Rooney highlighted the difficulty of playing with one’s back to the goal, which is a common challenge for central strikers. He praised Cunha’s ability to drive forward with the ball and believes his natural position is on the left. Rooney also proposed that Joshua Zirkzee, who has faced criticism for his performance, could be given the central role if he improves his decision-making in deeper positions. "Zirkzee is actually a very technically good player," Rooney said, "but he needs to stop needlessly giving the ball away and focus on linking play with midfield and wide players." The debate over Cunha's role highlights a broader issue for Manchester United: the lack of depth in the forward line. With Sesko injured and Zirkzee struggling, the team is forced to adapt, but the effectiveness of these changes remains uncertain. As the season progresses, it will be crucial for Carrick to find a balance that maximizes the strengths of his available players while addressing the tactical challenges posed by the current squad composition.