BEAST”- Pereira must now unleash Wolves star who Man United want to sign
Vitor Pereira had an ideal start to his tenure as Wolverhampton Wanderers manager in his last match, leading his new team to a 3-0 victory over Leicester City away from home.
Now, the Portuguese manager faces his first Premier League challenge at Molineux, aiming to secure back-to-back wins against a Manchester United side struggling with form.
Pereira knows this will likely be a more difficult test for his team, despite Manchester United’s recent troubles. He will be hoping that his key players from the Leicester match can deliver once again.
Key Performers in Wolves’ Win Over Leicester
Reflecting on the dominant performance against a lackluster Leicester, it was the perfect debut for Pereira in English football, with his tactical changes proving highly effective.
One of the standout decisions was recalling Goncalo Guedes to the starting lineup. The 28-year-old’s clinical first-time volley gave Wolves an early 1-0 lead, thanks to a well-timed assist from Nelson Semedo.
Starting Rodrigo Gomes also proved to be a brilliant move, with the 21-year-old adding a second goal shortly after Guedes’ opener.
Pereira’s decision to keep the lineup largely unchanged from Gary O’Neil’s final match also paid off. Goalkeeper Jose Sa made four crucial saves to secure a clean sheet, while Santiago Bueno’s solid defensive performance helped keep things tight at the back, winning four duels.
However, there’s one more player Pereira will be hoping can exploit a vulnerable Manchester United defense on Boxing Day—Matheus Cunha, who was also pivotal in the Leicester victory.
Matheus Cunha’s Impact and His Link to Manchester United
While Cunha sealed the win with a late goal against Leicester, it wasn’t his most explosive performance of the season. Still, the Brazilian has been a constant menace for Premier League defenders, with a tally of nine goals and three assists from 17 appearances so far. Manchester United will have to find a way to deal with him after their disappointing 3-0 defeat to AFC Bournemouth.
Cunha will be confident he can cause problems for United’s defense, which has been porous recently, conceding 12 goals in their last five matches across all competitions.
Despite Wolves’ struggles near the bottom of the Premier League, they have scored more goals than Manchester United, with 27 compared to United’s 21. Cunha has netted nine of those goals, adding to an impressive 2023/24 season in which he contributed 22 goals across all competitions.
The Brazilian is poised to surpass that mark this season, and his former manager, Gary O’Neil, has praised him for his consistency, calling him “incredible” after he scored twice against Fulham in late November.
With the January transfer window approaching and reports linking Cunha with a move to United’s rivals, Sporting CP, the forward will be motivated to impress Pereira further, especially as he looks to extend his strong run of form and help his team secure another victory.
