'Pathetic' - Man United were an embarrassment and Matheus Cunha will question transfer

May 22, 2025
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Manchester United embarrassed themselves in the Europa League final and have gone backwards under head coach Ruben Amorim.

That’s the view of talkSPORT’s Alex Crook, who agreed with Gabby Agbonlahor that Matheus Cunha could now be doubting his transfer.

United have been slammed for their showing in the Europa League finalCredit: Getty

United were deservedly beaten 1-0 by Tottenham at the San Mames Stadium in Bilbao to miss out on European silverware.

With their worst ever Premier League finish on the horizon, such a dismal season could impact their transfer business in the summer.

talkSPORT understands Wolves forward Cunha is in talks with United, who are his favoured destination should he leave Molineux.

However, Aston Villa legend Agbonlahor believes he could question a move to Old Trafford after their season turned even more disastrous.

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“They’re in a bad way,” he said on talkSPORT Breakfast. “If I’m Matheus Cunha, I’m saying, ‘I’m not sure, I’m really, really not sure about going to Manchester United at the moment.’

“I know they’re a big club still Jeff [Stelling], I get that, but I’m sure someone like Cunha wants to be playing in Europe…

“Not a team that could be fighting relegation next season, after what they’ve shown this season.”

talkSPORT’s chief football correspondent Crook then joined the show and didn’t hold back on his assessment of United’s current state.

“The focus really does turn on Ruben Amorim now. I think I’m right in what I said in that question in the press conference, there is no denying that Manchester United have gone backwards, not forwards in his tenure.

“The stats tell us that, they were seven points off a Champions League place when Erik ten Hag was fired, they’re a million miles away from the Champions League now.

Agbonlahor believes United are 'in a bad way' after the defeat — Agbonlahor believes United are ‘in a bad way’ after the defeatCredit: talkSPORT

Crook hit out at the United players and managerCredit: talkSPORT

“That performance in a cup final, compare it to the performance that Erik ten Hag managed to get out of pretty much the same group of players in last season’s FA Cup final, it’s chalk and cheese.

“That was an embarrassment to this once great football club, the players were pathetic, they were abject, the manager was tactically inept, how he didn’t make a change before the last 20 minutes is beyond me.

“We could all see that Bruno Fernandes was floundering, playing deep-lying in midfield alongside Casemiro. We could all see that Mason Mount was having no impact on the game. We could all see that they may as well have had me up front and not Rasmus Hojlund.

“Now I don’t get paid many millions of pounds to make these kind of judgement calls, Ruben Amorim does, he sold the club and the fans short last night.”

“But in fairness, I take your point about the substitutions and about Bruno Fernandes, but these are not his players,” host Stelling said.

“He didn’t want to come in mid-season, he wanted to wait until the end of the season, and you can see why, can’t you?”

Crook has complained about Amorim's lack of impact — Crook has complained about Amorim’s lack of impactCredit: Getty

The Portuguese coach has a winning percentage of just 39

INEOS and Ratcliffe's ownership has also been questioned — INEOS and Ratcliffe’s ownership has also been questionedCredit: Getty

But Crook replied: “I’m not sure I can see that as an excuse anymore.

“Look at what Vitor Pereira has done at Wolverhampton Wanderers, having come in around about the same sort of time, he’s absolutely transformed that team with Gary O’Neil’s players effectively.

“And with Matheus Cunha, who clearly wants to go, wants to go to Manchester United, I wonder if he might have to reconsider that this morning. I think that deal is done before United fans get even more depressed.

“But your job as a manager when you come in mid-season is to make an impact, clearly the reason that INEOS, and I could do a whole rant on them as well, made the change was because they felt Erik ten Hag was underperforming.

“They’ve picked Ruben Amorim to change the direction of travel, in the short team at least he’s not done that and it’s a massive summer for him now.

“He’s got a full pre-season under his belt to come, he’s going to be backed in the transfer market, he’s going to get rid of some of the players he doesn’t want, he’s going to bring in players that he does.

Cunha may have second thoughts on a move to Old TraffordCredit: Getty

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“If we’re sat here ten games into the new season and he’s lost six, then I think serious questions will be asked and when it comes to INEOS by the way, this is not Ruben Amorim’s fault solely.

“Last night, I would put the blame on the manager, but the chaotic season is all down to Sir Jim Ratcliffe who came in, he promised change, he promised to get this club back to where, in his words, they belong.

“Well he’s fallen well short of that, the mess they made of the Erik ten Hag situation this time last year, bringing in Dan Ashworth, the best in class according to Ratcliffe, and then dispensing with his services within six months.

“Bring in a manager who clearly isn’t moulded to the squad and that’s why the season has turned out as dismally as it is, and that’s before you get into all the staff cutbacks.

“One positive for Sir Jim Ratcliffe this morning, he’s not got to put his hand in his pocket and get down to Lidl now and buy the burgers and sausages for the barbecue.”

Head coach Amorim raised doubts over his future at United after the final, despite only joining from Sporting Lisbon in November.