Carlo Ancelotti has reportedly made it clear that Matheus Cunha still has work to do if he wants to establish himself as a regular starter for Brazil again, with the experienced manager demanding greater consistency and improvement from the Manchester United forward.
Cunha remains one of Brazil’s most talented attacking players, but competition for places in the national team has become increasingly intense. With several attacking options available to Brazil, Ancelotti is understood to be looking for players who can consistently deliver at the highest level rather than relying solely on reputation or individual moments of quality.
The Brazilian forward has shown throughout his career that he possesses the technical ability to operate in several attacking positions. His versatility allows him to play as a striker, attacking midfielder or supporting forward, while his ability to carry the ball, create chances and link up with teammates makes him an attractive option for any manager.
However, Ancelotti’s reported message is that talent alone will not guarantee Cunha a starting position.
The Italian coach is known for demanding tactical discipline from his players, particularly when they are competing for important positions. For Cunha, that could mean improving several areas of his game, including consistency in front of goal, decision-making in the final third, movement without the ball and his contribution when Brazil do not have possession.
Cunha has often been praised for his ability to participate in the build-up and create opportunities for teammates. However, the expectation at international level is considerably higher. Brazil have historically possessed an abundance of attacking talent, meaning even a small drop in form can result in a player losing his place in the starting XI.
That is the challenge facing Cunha.
Ancelotti’s approach could ultimately force the forward to raise his standards. Rather than viewing competition for his position as a setback, Cunha can use it as motivation to become a more complete and reliable attacker.
One of the biggest areas Brazil will want to see improvement is consistency. International football does not provide players with the same number of matches available at club level, meaning every opportunity can carry significant importance. When a player receives limited minutes, he must make an immediate impact.
For Cunha, that could mean becoming more decisive whenever he enters the pitch.
Scoring goals will obviously remain an important part of the equation, but Ancelotti is unlikely to judge him solely on his goal statistics. The forward’s pressing, movement, passing, creativity and ability to occupy defenders can all influence his chances of becoming a regular starter.
Cunha’s versatility could also work in his favour.
Unlike a traditional striker who is primarily expected to remain in central positions, Cunha has demonstrated an ability to move across the attacking line. He can drop deeper to receive the ball, drift into wider areas and combine with teammates. Those characteristics can be particularly useful to a manager who wants his attacking players to interchange positions.
Nevertheless, versatility can also create a different challenge.
If Brazil have several players competing for the same positions, Cunha may find himself being used as a rotational option rather than an automatic starter. To change that situation, he will need to establish a clear identity within Ancelotti’s tactical system.
That means showing the manager exactly what he can provide that other attacking players cannot.
The competition for places in Brazil’s squad is always intense, and Ancelotti’s presence has added another layer of tactical evaluation. The manager has spent much of his career working with elite players and managing dressing rooms containing multiple stars. His selection decisions are therefore likely to be based heavily on form, tactical suitability and reliability.
For Cunha, the message is straightforward: continue improving and force the manager to select him.
There is also the question of confidence.
Forwards often perform at their best when they feel trusted by their manager, but competition can sometimes have the opposite effect. Cunha will need to maintain confidence while simultaneously accepting that he has areas of his game that need improvement.
That balance could be crucial.
Rather than becoming frustrated by a lack of starts, the Brazilian could respond by increasing his performances at club level. Strong performances for Manchester United would naturally strengthen his case for more opportunities with Brazil.
Every goal, assist and influential performance could become another argument in his favour.
At the same time, Cunha will know that international football is different from the Premier League. Brazil’s attacking structure requires players to adapt quickly, and Ancelotti will expect his forwards to understand their responsibilities immediately.
The manager could therefore place significant emphasis on Cunha’s tactical intelligence.
Knowing when to press, when to drop deeper, when to attack space and when to remain high could become just as important as scoring goals. Against strong international opponents, small tactical details can decide matches, and Ancelotti will want players who can execute his instructions consistently.
Cunha’s technical qualities give him a strong foundation, but the next step is turning those qualities into consistent performances.
The Brazilian forward has already experienced different stages of his career, and his development has included playing in multiple leagues and adapting to different tactical systems. That experience could help him respond positively to Ancelotti’s demands.
The manager’s reported stance should therefore not necessarily be interpreted as a rejection of Cunha.
Instead, it represents the reality of competing for a starting position in one of international football’s most competitive teams.
Ancelotti has a huge pool of attacking talent available to him, and every player will have to earn his place. Cunha is unlikely to be treated differently simply because of his reputation or previous performances.
If he can improve his consistency, become more decisive in the final third and demonstrate greater tactical discipline, his chances of returning to Brazil’s starting XI could increase significantly.
For now, however, the competition remains open.
Cunha’s response will ultimately be determined on the pitch. The best way for him to answer questions about his place in the national team is to produce performances that make his selection difficult to ignore.
Brazil need attacking players capable of changing matches, and Cunha has already shown that he possesses the technical qualities required to do so.
The challenge now is consistency.
Ancelotti’s reported message gives Cunha a clear target: improve, perform and make himself impossible to leave out.
For a player with Cunha’s ambition, that challenge could become one of the most important stages of his international career. Rather than allowing competition to limit his opportunities, he has the opportunity to use it as motivation and prove that he deserves to be among Brazil’s first-choice attacking players.
The door to the starting XI is therefore far from closed. But under Ancelotti, Cunha may have to earn the right to walk through it every time.