Before the Manchester Derby, Carrick Could Continue Using Cunha as Manchester United's Striker Rather Than Sesko

Reports state that when Manchester United face Manchester City, Carrick should continue using Cunha as the central striker rather than starting Sesko.

Manchester United will face Manchester City in the Premier League, but defensive issues are not the biggest problem Carrick needs to solve in this match. Sesko scored as a substitute late in the game against Everton, but United failed to hold onto the lead.

Since the start of the 2026/27 season, Manchester United's defensive problems have been obvious. Against Haaland and Manchester City, even a top-level defense could concede goals, so Carrick needs to consider other positional choices.

With Amad injured and Sesko lacking match fitness, Carrick previously used Cunha as the striker. Cunha is fully capable of playing in that position, but he prefers cutting inside from the left and operating in the half-spaces.

Rashford is currently continuing in the role he had last season, while Mbeumo operates on the other side. Mbeumo played as a striker against Manchester City earlier this year and is better suited to leading the line; Cunha, meanwhile, tends to drop deeper to receive the ball.

Cunha has scored seven goals in three matches, but his positioning has instead affected United's attack because he and Bruno Fernandes often appear in similar areas, forcing Fernandes to drop deeper. Against Ipswich, Fernandes still scored a hat-trick, although that match quickly opened up after Ipswich converted a penalty and then scored an unfortunate own goal.

After Sesko scored and earned more playing time, he has a chance to make his first start of the season. However, facing Manchester City may be one of the few matches where continuing with Cunha as the striker makes more sense.

Manchester City are expected to have more possession, so United need to remain patient and launch counterattacks, just as they did when they beat City 2-0 at Old Trafford earlier this year. Cunha is almost the ideal player for this approach.

Cunha's ability to draw fouls and his passing vision can help players such as Mbeumo and Rashford create attacks. With his pace, Rashford is likely to become United's main counterattacking outlet behind the opposition defense.

Cunha can also help United limit City's build-up through midfield, giving United an extra player in the center and forcing City to progress through the wings. City are not afraid of this, especially with Haaland having already scored three headed goals this season, but it would limit their attacking options.

If United can take the lead, they may not need to bring on Sesko; but when goals are needed, the 23-year-old Sesko is one of the best options. He has already scored five goals as a substitute since joining United and could take advantage of City's vulnerable defense late in the match.

The starting lineup Carrick used in the Champions League match against Qarabag may offer an indication of his thinking for Sunday's derby. With a different style of opponent and Sesko still regaining match fitness, starting Sesko against City could be considered more reasonable.

Since Carrick took charge of Manchester United, the team has beaten several traditional Premier League powers, with Cunha contributing goals in those victories. He scored in wins over Arsenal, Chelsea and Liverpool, and previously provided an assist in a victory over Manchester City, further suggesting that he should remain ahead of Sesko this weekend.