Matheus Cunha
January 2026
Cunha may be at risk of retrospective discipline after appearing to shout explicit language directly into a TV camera following his winning goal. Reports say the language was clearly heard on broadcast and commentators issued an apology for bad language. FA rules allow action for abusive or insulting language or gestures, including retroactive punishment when incidents are caught on camera.
Harry Maguire
January 2026
Maguire praised Carrick for bringing fresh energy after United followed up a 2-0 derby win over Manchester City with a 3-2 victory over Arsenal, giving Carrick six points from six. United’s goals came from Bryan Mbeumo, Patrick Dorgu, and a late winner by Cunha. Arsenal suffered their first home league defeat of the season and their lead at the top was cut to four points. Carrick said the group is still building and needs to add layers in coming weeks.
Michael Carrick
January 2026
United beat City 2-0, with Mbeumo and Dorgu scoring after two first-half goals were disallowed for offside and a third was later ruled out by VAR. It was United’s first home win over City since January 2023. United pressed aggressively and controlled midfield through Casemiro, disrupting City’s build-up and limiting their rhythm. Fernandes carried transitions, setting up Mbeumo for the opener, then Cunha’s cross was turned in by Dorgu after weak defending, with United staying compact to close it out.
Benjamin Sesko
January 2026
Ruben Amorim told Benjamin Sesko to be more clinical after United’s 1-1 draw at Leeds, describing him as a completely different striker to Rasmus Hojlund. Sesko has only two league goals and missed big chances as United dropped points in the top-four chase. Amorim said Sesko is doing many things right by getting into chances and linking play, but must improve in the final moments. He also highlighted broader attacking contributions and credited Matheus Cunha’s equaliser as part of a collective effort.
Joshua Zirkzee
December 2025
Zirkzee has reportedly given a verbal green light to join Roma in January after just one goal and four starts this season, having slid behind Sesko and Cunha in United’s striker pecking order. He sees Serie A as the best route to secure regular minutes before the 2026 World Cup. Roma sporting director Ricky Massara and coach Gian Piero Gasperini convinced him he fits their 3-4-2-1 system, but any move hinges on United’s depth during AFCON absences for Mbeumo and Amad. Amorim has warned no exit will be sanctioned without a replacement, arguing the squad is already thin and cannot afford to weaken further.
Joshua Zirkzee
December 2025
Manchester United have opted to postpone a call on Joshua Zirkzee’s future until later in January, despite the striker’s limited role. He has made 11 appearances but only four starts, logging 372 minutes and one goal while sitting behind Benjamin Sesko and Matheus Cunha in Ruben Amorim’s No.9 hierarchy. With wide forwards Bryan Mbeumo and Amad Diallo away at AFCON and Bruno Fernandes plus Kobbie Mainoo injured, United are wary of further weakening depth before the window’s final weeks. The club will reassess once the injury and fixture picture is clearer, balancing Zirkzee’s need for minutes against squad protection.
Bruno Fernandes
December 2025
Manchester United’s trip to in-form Aston Villa ended in a 2-1 defeat, with Morgan Rogers scoring twice around Matheus Cunha’s equaliser and extending Villa’s winning run to ten games in all competitions while exposing familiar defensive lapses. Ruben Amorim tweaked his 3-4-3 to crowd midfield and saw United compete well, but Bruno Fernandes limped off with a hamstring issue and Cunha later headed a huge chance wide, leaving United with two wins from eight league matches.
Ruben Amorim
December 2025
Souness branded United “still average”, insisting only Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo rise above the rest after another chaotic 4-4 under Amorim. He argued that, despite attacking flashes and goals, the wider squad simply lacks the consistent quality needed for a top-four push. Pointing to United’s failure to manage key moments and protect multiple leads, Souness framed the Bournemouth game as a snapshot of deeper structural issues. He claimed Champions League qualification looks unrealistic without major upgrades, questioning whether Amorim has the tools to transform the squad.
Benjamin Sesko
December 2025
Benjamin Sesko’s comeback from a knee injury has been pushed back after a bout of food poisoning, extending his absence just as Manchester United prepare to lose Bryan Mbeumo and Amad Diallo to AFCON and leaving Amorim short of forwards for a crucial winter stretch. Signed for £74m from RB Leipzig, Sesko has been sidelined since a Tottenham clash on November 8. His agent says rehab is on track and the striker is impatient to return, but medical staff and Amorim will decide timing while relying on Joshua Zirkzee and Matheus Cunha to cover.
Benjamin Sesko
December 2025
Benjamin Sesko’s agent says the Manchester United striker feels very good and is impatient to return after a thigh injury that has sidelined him since November’s 2-2 draw with Tottenham, having scored twice in 12 games following his £74 million move from RB Leipzig. Representative Elvis Basanovic praised coach Ruben Amorim’s charisma and long term project, stressing that Sesko needs time on the pitch with Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo to build attacking automatisms and believes patience will turn United into genuine Premier League title contenders.