
Gasperini warns Roma must contain Cunha at Old Trafford
Gian Piero Gasperini has warned his Roma side not to lower their guard against Manchester United tonight at Old Trafford, despite the Red Devils' poor results. The main threat is Matheus Cunha, the Brazilian forward who is United's principal attacking figure. Gasperini said: "Never trust him", as reported by La Gazzetta dello Sport. United are struggling, but the quality of their squad remains intact. Cunha has not shone as he did in the past, and like the rest of the team he has been below his best. In 13 matches so far this season he has scored only two goals, against Sabah in the Champions League and against Fulham in the Premier League. Gasperini has stressed that the threat should not be underestimated. The job of containing Cunha will fall mainly to Evan N'Dicka. The Ivorian defender must work well on anticipation and get his reading of the play right, but he must also avoid mistakes when stepping out early. Cunha has pace, and if he gets away from a defender he is hard to catch, especially in open space. Roma's two midfielders, De Roon and Cristante, will also be asked to create density in front of the central defender to stop Cunha from receiving playable balls. For N'Dicka, tonight's contest rises sharply in level. The challenge is demanding, and the Roma defence will need discipline and sharp timing to keep the United forward quiet.







