Manchester United's rugged player transforms into Bale, Carrick explains the reason! Cunha accepts being a super substitute

During the Manchester United vs Arsenal game, the €30 million man Patrick Doig once again netted a world-class goal. Since Christmas, this Danish international has been among the Premier League’s top performers, scoring against Newcastle, Manchester City, and Arsenal, with all his shots being impressive. If it weren't for a controversial offside call that disallowed a goal, Doig could have scored a brilliant winning goal in the match against Wolves.

According to Opta data, during this period he has created 11 chances, matching captain Bruno Fernandes and ranking just behind Newcastle’s Bruno Guimarães, Tottenham’s Pedro Porro, Arsenal’s Saka, and Leeds United’s Anton Stach, who all created 12 chances.

Additionally, Doig has taken 11 shots, bringing his total of shots plus chances created to 22, placing him among the top three Premier League players in this category. Manchester United fans jokingly say that once a rough player, Doig has now become the Gareth Bale of Old Trafford!

Upon learning these statistics, Doig said, "I wasn’t aware of these numbers, but I believe that playing in a more advanced position gives you greater freedom. When you are closer to the opponent's goal, it’s easier to create chances and push forward. I really enjoy playing in this role and hope to be more attacking in upcoming matches to help the team score or assist."

He added, "I like getting into the box, scoring goals, and providing assists. Of course, I also enjoy helping the team defensively. We need to work together, and even though I play as a winger, I will do my defensive duties because I used to play as a defender."

Doig’s traits are distinctive; although his technique isn’t the most refined, he has strong determination and is fearless in challenges. Since Christmas, he has won 45 duels, second only to Nottingham Forest’s Elliott Anderson (50) and Everton’s tough defender James Tarkowski (48).

Another statistic shows that only Nottingham Forest’s Neco Williams has been fouled more times than him. Moreover, Doig always gets up immediately without complaining, especially after being stomped on by Kyle Walker during the Burnley match, where he showed no complaints and continued playing.

Doig is clearly a player suited for the Premier League, and he is well aware of his strengths. "I’m physically strong, so I give my all to tackle and quickly regain possession. That’s definitely one of my strengths," Doig said. "Manchester United is one of the greatest clubs in the world, so I feel proud every minute I’m on the pitch. For me, playing is a blessing, so I strive to improve game by game and enjoy the sport."

Approaching his one-year anniversary at Manchester United, Doig summed up: "I feel very comfortable; a year is a long time. I’m settled in this team and country. I feel great, have learned a lot, and my level as a player has improved significantly. Now I just need to stay happy and keep working hard to improve match by match."

Besides Doig’s goal, Cunha’s winning strike at the Emirates Stadium was equally brilliant. When asked if shooting training had increased at Carrington, the Manchester United coach responded, "The credit for those two goals doesn’t belong to me! Pat’s positioning was excellent, and his coordination with teammates was smooth. But that final shot was breathtaking—absolutely stunning and unexpected!"

Carrick continued, "Pat has played a crucial role in the last two matches, showing it in every aspect. Offensively, he scored, but I also think his threat, mobility, ball control, and teamwork were outstanding. Defensively, he partnered with Luke Shaw on the left side and performed perfectly against two teams with strong wing attacks. So, he accomplished a tough task. I’m happy for him. The two goals he scored were very different in style, but he gave his all in both games. Seeing him smile makes me very pleased. He was substituted due to a slight cramp, but hopefully, it’s nothing serious. We hope he’s not injured. Being substituted shows how much effort he put in. It’s hard to tell now, so we’ll have to wait and see. Of course, we hope it’s not too serious."

Cunha, who scored the winning long-range shot, admitted that Doig’s goal was better than his own. "Unbelievable, I think his goal was better than mine. Honestly, it was an incredible strike," Cunha said. "We have great shooters in our team. Is this my best goal at Manchester United? Probably not, but it’s definitely the most important goal in my short time wearing the Red Devils jersey."

Due to Doig’s performances, Cunha has had to become a "super substitute" in recent matches. The £62.5 million summer signing said, "I know the strength of the team; everyone wants to play, but the important thing is to help the team and give your all. I think Arsenal is the best team in the world right now, but we are Manchester United, and everything we do is to win. Carrick knows this feeling; he has been with Manchester United for many years. He understands the club, knows what it means, and is very clear about the fans’ expectations. He shows us every moment, helps us understand every second, and tells us that everyone is against Manchester United, so we need to be united."

Carrick also praised Cunha’s attitude highly: "When Cunha came on, I immediately felt he would score and make an impact. His shot was fantastic. He perfectly embodied our team spirit this week. Cunha didn’t start in two games but played a huge role. He must have been disappointed not to start, but he turned that disappointment into motivation. At two key moments, he deserved that winning goal because he performed excellently this week. I’m truly happy for him."

Maguire also commended Cunha during a joint interview: "A player like Cunha coming off the bench—I believe he was very unhappy sitting on the bench for the past two games. I know his character; he’s eager to play. However, in these two matches, he did play an important role. He assisted the winning goal against Manchester City, and today he again contributed significantly. This proves that our team has players who can come off the bench and make a key difference."