Why is Matheus Cunha Not Playing? Manager Confirms Fatigue as Reason for Absence Against Bournemouth
Matheus Cunha isn’t in Manchester United’s lineup tonight, and honestly, the news hit fans like a missed sitter. Manager Ruben Amorim just called it “fatigue.” He told reporters, “Mateus this morning felt a little bit fatigued. He was ready to play, but I know that especially in the beginning, a new club, he wants to give everything, but we need to be careful”. So it’s not an injury, thankfully, but more about being cautious and getting him up to full speed. It’s pre-season, but you can tell from Amorim’s voice: they’re playing it safe, even if supporters think Cunha looked pretty sharp in training all week.
@BeyondUTD1 shares a video of Ruben Amorim explaining Matheus Cunha's absence from the squad. "It's fatigue."
@samuelluckhurst shares Amorim’s update that Matheus Cunha has some fatigue and they’re being cautious. Add notes: Cunha was ready and eager to play, but will be saved for the next match.
Scrolling Insta, I saw Matheus post a short story—he didn’t mention the game, looked pretty cheerful, just wrote, “Following your dreams” with that usual optimism he leans into. Feels like he’s taking the move to United in stride, even if a lot of fans hoped to see him debut tonight. Further down his profile, there was another post from a few days ago with him vibing and laughing at Carrington alongside his teammates, so if you’re worried about him being down, don’t be—he’s loving the new club life.
Over on Twitter, there’s a storm of takes. Some fans don’t buy the “fatigue” bit—there are tweets like, “They were fit before? Here we go again with Amorim’s fitness excuses”. Others—probably haunted by last year’s never-ending injury list—are just glad it’s not a hamstring or something worse. But, you know how it gets: everyone’s got an opinion.
What’s really going on? I’d say Amorim’s style is clear: protect your big new signing, especially this close to the season opener. Are the fans frustrated? For sure. But with energy like Cunha’s, I wouldn’t bet on him being in the stands for long. Probably see him off the bench next match, if the manager’s “next one” line is for real. And anyway, judging by those Instagram stories, Cunha’s not about letting a slow start mess with his vibe.
