Matheus Cunha vs. Marcus Rashford: The Numbers, the Narrative, & the No. 10 Shirt | OneFootball

Matheus Cunha vs. Marcus Rashford: The Numbers, the Narrative, & the No. 10 Shirt | OneFootball

In partnership with

Yahoo sports
Icon: Attacking Football

Attacking Football

·9. Juli 2025

Matheus Cunha vs. Marcus Rashford: The Numbers, the Narrative, & the No. 10 Shirt

Artikelbild:Matheus Cunha vs. Marcus Rashford: The Numbers, the Narrative, & the No. 10 Shirt

Marcus Rashford was once the purest Old Trafford fairy tale: a last-minute call-up, two debut goals, and a cup-final winner. But those early fireworks faded into patchy seasons, spectacular highs followed by long slumps, whispers about training standards, and finally an uneasy truce with new boss Rúben Amorim that never really held. By January he was loaned to Aston Villa just to clear the air. When he came back, the air was even thicker.

United’s verdict couldn’t be clearer. Before Rashford has even posed for a goodbye photo, the club has taken his iconic No. 10 shirt and fastened it to the back of Matheus Cunha, a forward who hasn’t yet played a single competitive minute in red. Cunha isn’t a headline striker in the old United mould; he’s a hard-running, chain-link presser who made Wolves watchable on bad days and dangerous on good ones. That profile—restless, out of possession, and tidy in it—is exactly what Amorim wants as the front-foot reference point of his rebuild.


OneFootball Videos


The speed of the handover is the real headline. Shirts aren’t usually reassigned until the leaving party is over; this time the ink dried while Rashford was still clearing his locker. The gesture tells two stories at once: Rashford’s journey from academy prodigy to club emblem has reached its final chapter, and Amorim is betting big that Cunha, with less star aura and more sweat equity, can write the next one.

What Cunha Adds Immediately

Cunha brings two qualities Amorim considers non-negotiable: intensity off the ball and clarity with it. Last season he ranked in the 95th percentile for high-press actions among Premier League forwards yet still created 0.30 xA per 90, elite service for a side that finished in the bottom half in chance creation.

Artikelbild:Matheus Cunha vs. Marcus Rashford: The Numbers, the Narrative, & the No. 10 Shirt

Rashford & Cunha Showdown: Where the Brazilian Pulls Ahead

In every efficiency metric, the Rashford-Cunha comparison tilts toward the Brazilian. Cunha’s first advantage is judgement in the final third. He rarely settles for pot shots from 30 yards; instead, he slips cut-backs or squared passes that actually move defenders. DataMB has him in the 85th percentile for key passes among top-flight forwards last season, while his average shot distance sits a full three meters closer to goal than Rashford’s. In other words, he waits until the chance is worth taking.

Then there’s the work without the ball. Cunha tops United’s squad in successful high-press actions per 90 in preseason data and spent last year at Wolves harrying centre backs, doubling back into midfield, and instantly reopening lanes once possession was won. Amorim’s scheme lives or dies on that kind of repeat sprinting; Rashford’s off-the-ball numbers, even in his best season, never reached the same volume.

Finally, output. Cunha finished 2024/25 in the 95th percentile for non-penalty goals and still cleared the league median for expected assists. That balance—score plenty, create a bit, and do the dirty running—explains why Amorim pushed so hard to get him and was willing to hand over the No. 10 before Rashford had even packed his locker.

Where Rashford Still Holds an Edge

Rashford’s 2022/23 burst of 30 goals still looms over this comparison. On his day, he can win a match in a flash with one perfectly timed run and one lashing finish—job done. United haven’t had many forwards who can turn a nothing ball over the top into a highlight-reel moment, and Cunha hasn’t shown that same one-man counterpunch.

There’s also the “big-occasion” factor. Rashford’s scoring log isn’t padded against soft opposition; it features nights where he rattled the net at Emirates, silenced the Etihad, and dragged United past Barcelona. Managers crave that kind of muscle memory when the lights are brightest.

Then there’s raw speed. Rashford’s first five meters are electric, the sort of burst that drags a back line ten yards deeper, even when United are pinned in. If Amorim wants United to spring from a mid-block, losing that gear will sting unless someone else provides it.

Finally, it’s easy to forget how useful Rashford’s profile is beyond the pitch. A homegrown star, the global face of the club, sells shirts by the container-load; all of that matters when boardrooms weigh up a sale.

Put differently, Cunha looks more reliable week to week, but Rashford’s top end, the ability to decide a derby or carry a counterattack on his own, is the part of the equation United still haven’t fully replaced.

Deep-Dive: Efficiency & Football IQ

Cunha is not just the last man on a passing chain; he’s often the one threading the needle in the first place. His numbers show it. A higher share of progressive carries, more key passes, and nearly double Rashford’s expected-assist output per 90 last season.

Put simply, he drags markers out, drops a shoulder, and slides the pass that cracks a low block, then he’s first to arrive for the return ball. That blend of creator and finisher is exactly what United needs and has lacked when opponents camp on the edge of their own box.

Amorim’s Three Simple Rules for His Forwards

Rúben Amorim’s attack is built on three non-negotiables:

  • Stick to the pressing plan.
  • Move for the team, not for yourself.
  • Give max effort every single day.

Rashford ticked those boxes some days, but not every day. Training standards dropped, talks cooled, and once he left for Villa, the two barely spoke, according to The Times.

Matheus Cunha walked into Carrington speaking Amorim’s language. According to Ben Jacobs, he asked for the No. 10 shirt because he “wanted the pressure that comes with it.” United handed it over before he had even laced up for his first training session. That show of confidence mixed with Cunha’s reputation for relentless pressing and tactical discipline made Amorim’s choice simple.

The Pressure of the No. 10

At Manchester United, the No. 10 shirt is more than cloth and stitching. It carries the weight of Rooney’s swagger and Rashford’s rise. Matheus Cunha isn’t flinching. He asked for the jersey, framing it as a challenge he wanted, not a privilege he’d tolerate. United, sensing the moment, gave Rashford a heads-up before the switch was rubber-stamped, a small courtesy that doubled as acknowledgement his time was winding down. The quiet handover speaks volumes; everyone involved understands this is a clean break and that Cunha now carries the responsibility, history, and expectation that come with those two famous digits.

Rashford, now fully exploring a move away from Old Trafford, was said to be understanding. His preference remains Barcelona, and his departure is now seen as a decision that suits all parties involved.

A New Era

Ultimately, the Rashford-Cunha handover signals United’s shift from romance to reliability. Marcus Rashford gave United plenty of highlight-reel memories, but uneven form, a system that no longer suits him, and a cool relationship with Rúben Amorim have pushed the academy star to the door.

Matheus Cunha steps in with fresher legs and a game that ticks every box the manager cares about: pressing, link-up play, and a steady end product. On paper and in training, he looks less like a placeholder and more like a statement of what this new-look United wants to be—hard-working, accountable, and measured by output, not reputation.

The numbers hint at an upgrade, not a like-for-like swap. But football isn’t played on spreadsheets, and shirts don’t win games; players do.

Impressum des Publishers ansehen