Regarding Matheus Cunha, it’s clear that this has been a disappointing setback for him. How do you assess his start, and what potential do you see in him moving forward?
“I believe he has a lot of potential left to tap into. Transitioning to a new club comes with different pressures, but I think he’s managed that quite well. He struggled initially because he wasn’t scoring and faced some unfortunate criticism on social media [smiles]. He was likely overthinking his stats, but his impact on the team is crucial. There’s still considerable room for Cunha to develop both defensively and offensively.”
Leny appeared a bit upset when he came off the field on Sunday. How is he doing? We also noticed Mason Mount comforting him after the game. What does this say about the team’s culture and the closeness of the group?
“It’s really significant. I’ve spoken with him because he tends to overthink things. When he makes mistakes during a match, it affects him, and being young, he wants to perform perfectly. He’s in a phase of growth, just like everyone else here, navigating games and setbacks. It’s understandably challenging for him, and he needs to manage his reactions on the bench. His frustration shows he cares, and while he recognizes it wasn’t his best performance, he still did some positive things, which I have pointed out to him. He’s fit and prepared for the next challenge.”
We’ve asked about Shea Lacey several times, and he seems to be getting closer to his debut. Given the pressures of playing for Manchester United, how ready do you think he is for that spotlight? How do you prepare young players for the attention they’ll receive in the first team?
“First and foremost, we focus on explaining the game to him every day. If he feels comfortable and has fewer doubts while playing, it will help him immensely. He also needs to adjust to the physicality; training with us will give him a better grasp of the pace, pressure, and decision-making required, which is vastly different from what he experienced in the Under-21s. That’s the best way I know to prepare a player for this club. When the opportunity arises, I’m confident he’ll be ready to step in.”
