Manchester United are preparing to host Ipswich Town at Old Trafford on Sunday, 30 August, in their first home game of the 2026/27 Premier League season. The Red Devils arrive at the match on the back of a disappointing 2-0 defeat at the hands of Hull City and will be desperate for a win.
One player who failed to make an impact against the Tigers at the MKM Stadium is Matheus Cunha. This weekend’s game, meanwhile, will see the Brazilian face his former Wolverhampton Wanderers boss Gary O’Neil, who took charge at Portmand Road this summer.
Cunha also has a not-so-pleasant history with Ipswich Town, as he scored against them in a 2-1 defeat in December 2024 before sparking a mass brawl. The Brazilian had his tryst with controversy during his time at Molineux, and was also sent off for headbutting Milos Kerkez in an FA Cup fifth-round defeat in March 2025.
O’Neil has now reflected on his former player’s attitude ahead of the weekend’s reunion at the Theatre of Dreams.
O’Neil hails Cunha
Speaking ahead of Sunday’s game, as cited by the Ipswich Star, O’Neil dismissed suggestions that Cunha was volatile and revealed that he had enjoyed working with the player at Molineux. He said: “He’s not that volatile. He’s a great guy. He’s passionate.”
“I loved working with him. I loved the challenge of teaching him, I suppose, because he was unbelievably raw. Not technically, he was unbelievably good technically. But his tactical stuff and his understanding of what the team needed from him, I felt needed a lot of work.”
“We spent a lot of time together trying to help him understand how we can be better for the team, and he committed to it. He was fantastic for us. Obviously, a big, big positive from our time at Wolves was the work done with him. He got a big move off the back of that work.”
“He’s maybe misunderstood. I wouldn’t describe him as volatile at all. I think he’s a good guy. He wears his heart on his sleeve. I suppose the game can sometimes take you to places emotionally. I’ll have done things that maybe you wouldn’t do again. It’s just the nature of the game and the nature of the Premier League. But he’s a good guy.”
O’Neil also revealed that he is keen to get the better of Cunha this weekend, adding: “I think a lot of him, we still stay in contact, but I’m desperate to beat him and send him a cheeky late night Sunday text saying, ‘unlucky Matheus’. That would be nice.”
Addressing the glasses incident
During the infamous scuffle at the Molineux in December 2024, Cunha broke the glasses of Ipswich Town security guard Chris, an incident that remains vivid in the memory of fans. The Brazilian apologised for his behaviour and even paid for a replacement, which helped the player escape an extended ban.
O’Neil insists that it is all water under the bridge, adding: “Chris is still here! Cunha obviously apologised for that. There’s always these things going on. I don’t think that’s a reflection of Matheus as a character at all.”
“I know Chris has forgiven him. Chris has forgiven me for allowing Cunha to do that as well, if it even was my fault. Matheus is a good guy, but, like I say, he’s playing for Manchester United now and I’ve got at least 27 people in there that are far further up my importance list than Matheus Cunha anymore. I’m focusing on us.”
“I enjoyed my time with Matheus. I’m glad that he’s gone on to do well and hopefully we can get one over him at the weekend.”
Final Thoughts
Cunha was outstanding for United after arriving last summer, finishing the campaign with 10 goals and four assists. The Brazilian, though, could endure a hostile reception from the travelling Ipswich fans this weekend, who may not let him forget that incident.
Matheus Cunha stats: 2025/26 Season
| Competition | Appearances | Starts | Goals | Assists | Yellow Cards | Red Cards | Minutes Played |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Premier League | 33 | 29 | 10 | 4 | 4 | - | 2,503' |
| FA Cup | 1 | 1 | - | - | - | - | 90' |
| EFL Cup | 1 | 1 | - | - | - | - | 90' |
| Total | 35 | 31 | 10 | 4 | 4 | - | 2,683' |
Source: Transfermarkt.
However, the player has the character and the quality to deal with the situation. Cunha’s underwhelming outing against Hull City is expected to be a temporary blip, and this weekend’s game offers him the perfect opportunity to bounce back.
Feature image Molly Darlington via Getty Images
