I watched Manchester United end 2025 with a 1-1 draw against Wolverhampton Wanderers, and from my sofa the night felt like a team trying to solve a puzzle with the wrong pieces. Wolves were the Premier League's bottom side, which makes the result sting even more. Ruben Amorim had impressed me in the 1-0 win over Newcastle after tweaking his tactics, but here he reverted to his preferred setup and United struggled to create anything early. Then came a slice of luck: Joshua Zirkzee's deflected effort trundled past Jose Sa and into the net. For a moment, the evening seemed to smile.

United found their feet after the goal. Benjamin Sesko hit the post from a corner, and I thought the second goal was coming. But Wolves quietly grew teeth. Ladislav Krejci headed home from a corner just before half-time, and the game changed. In the 55th minute, a defensive mix-up nearly handed United another goal, only for Sa to scramble back and claw the ball off the line. Then Senne Lammens made a good double save to deny Wolves the lead. Home fans thought Patrick Dorgu had won it in the 90th minute after Sesko's initial effort was saved, but the offside flag went up. That was football, wasn't it? A night of near-misses, half-chances, and one big question mark.

That question mark was Matheus Cunha. Much has been made of United's summer signings, and both Bryan Mbeumo and Cunha have played their parts in helping the club bounce back from a disappointing 2024/25 season. But with Bruno Fernandes injured, the onus was on Cunha to be the main creative hub against his former side. He made himself busy, drifting around as a free-floating No. 10, yet his final pass and shot were lacking. The ball seemed to stick to his boots at the wrong moments. He held on too long instead of releasing, and he ended the game with no key passes that led to notable chances. For a player wearing the No. 10 shirt and costing £63m, that is a red flag.

And look, I get it. Cunha has been in good form for much of the season, and one poor night should not define him. But context matters. Mason Mount and Fernandes are both missing through injury, and Mbeumo is away at the African Cup of Nations. Amorim needs Cunha to be the attacking threat and the creative spark. Against the worst team in the Premier League, that doesn't bode well for the Red Devils. As the calendar has turned to 2026, the questions from that night have followed United into the new year. The immediate opportunities against newly promoted Leeds United and Burnley should allow Cunha to show what he can offer. If he struggles in both, then alarm bells really might start ringing.

Some United supporters have not been shy. One wrote: 'I honestly have no idea what Cunha is doing in this game.' Another added: 'Cunha bro you are not him please stop I've had enough.' A third was critical of his decision-making: 'Cunha doesn't understand when to let go of the ball.' One supporter was even harsher, saying: 'Cunha has been diabolical.' Another echoed that: 'Cunha's another guy that gets away with murder. £63m, got the #10 yet plays like a bum more or less every game. It's really criminal, he's meant to be stepping up massively with Amad, Mbeumo & Bruno being out.' A final fan wrote: 'I've been unsure about Cunha all year but tonight has been pretty bad from him tbh. Relax. Keep the ball. Don't need to be a hero every time you get the ball at your feet. Being a United fan is honestly awful.'

I don't think the sky is falling. I do think this was a warning shot. United ended 2025 on a disappointing note, and the draw exposed how thin the creative department looks when Fernandes, Mount, and Mbeumo are unavailable. Cunha can be a force when he plays with urgency and releases the ball earlier. He can also be a frustrating watch when he tries to be the hero on every touch. The next few games will tell me whether this was a blip or a pattern. I'll be watching ... closely.