The winds of change are blowing at Molineux. Under new manager Vítor Pereira, Wolverhampton Wanderers have found a renewed sense of purpose, clawing their way out of the Premier League relegation zone for the first time this season. Central to their resurgence has been the scintillating form of Brazilian forward Matheus Cunha.
Cunha, a £44 million acquisition from Atlético Madrid last year, has been directly involved in a staggering 14 of Wolves’ 29 goals this campaign. His goals in back-to-back wins over Leicester City and Manchester United were instrumental in lifting Wolves out of the bottom three. Pereira, it seems, has quickly realized the gem he has inherited.
Tactical Tweaks Unleash Cunha’s Potential
Pereira’s tactical adjustments, while subtle, have had a profound impact. Wolves are playing with more cohesive compactness, as evidenced by their improved expected goals against (xGA) in recent matches. This defensive solidity has provided the platform for Cunha to shine.
The Portuguese manager has also instilled a shorter passing game, with Wolves recording their highest passing accuracies of the season in the wins over Leicester (91%) and United (92.7%). This suits Cunha’s style perfectly, allowing him to receive the ball in dangerous areas and wreak havoc with his trickery and vision.
“I like to play. My teams play good football, with the ball, without it, with courage,” Pereira explained. Cunha epitomizes this philosophy.
The Cunha Conundrum
However, Wolves’ reliance on Cunha presents a potential problem. With the January transfer window looming, there are whispers that Arsenal are keen on acquiring the Brazilian’s services. Pereira is acutely aware of the situation.
“I hope he stays with us for a long time but I understand that as a special player, he will have opportunities in his career,” Pereira admitted. “Of course I don’t want him to be sold in January.”
Wolves do have a track record of selling their star players, but losing Cunha midway through a relegation battle could be catastrophic. The club must resist any overtures and keep hold of their talisman if they are to maintain their Premier League status.
Strength in Depth
Encouragingly, Pereira is not putting all his eggs in the Cunha basket. Wolves have been practicing without the Brazilian, and the likes of Hwang Hee-chan and Raúl Jiménez have shown they can step up when called upon. The return of Mario Lemina from injury also bolsters their midfield options.
- Hwang Hee-chan scored his first goal of the season against United, assisted by Cunha
- Raúl Jiménez has 3 goals and 2 assists in limited minutes this season
- Mario Lemina is available after missing the start of the season through injury
While Cunha’s importance cannot be overstated, Pereira is building a squad capable of coping without him if necessary. This depth could prove crucial in the coming months.
The Road Ahead
Wolves’ next test comes in the form of Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday. Spurs manager Ange Postecoglou is known for his attacking philosophy, which could play into Wolves’ hands. With Cunha fit and firing, Pereira’s men will fancy their chances of making it three wins on the bounce.
“[Postecoglou] is a manager with different ideas, very offensive ideas and it means they are a team that can score a lot of goals,” Pereira said. “We need to be at our best level to compete with them.”
If Wolves can navigate the January transfer window with Cunha still in their ranks, they have every chance of maintaining their Premier League status. Under Pereira’s guidance, and with their Brazilian magician weaving his spells, a season that began in turmoil could yet end in triumph.
The Matheus Cunha saga is far from over, but Wolves fans can take heart from the early signs of the Pereira era. Keep hold of Cunha, and the good times may well continue to roll at Molineux.
