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Wolves defender Matt Doherty believes Brazilian prodigy Matheus Cunha can exhibit ‘Cruyff-like’ moments on the pitch.
Doherty is set to face his former club Tottenham today, having made a late substitute appearance against them last season.
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Moreover, the 32-year-old insists that Wolves have been revitalized following their back-to-back victories under new manager Vitor Pereira, allowing them to move clear of the relegation zone during the festive period.
Doherty also highlighted how Cunha played a key role in their recent success, particularly with his performance during the 2-0 win against Manchester United on Boxing Day.
He not only scored directly from a corner but also provided an assist for the second goal, impressing the fans with his dazzling skills and drawing comparisons to the legendary Johan Cruyff.
Doherty noted: “He operates on another level — showcasing remarkable quality when he’s confident. Competing against him is quite challenging.
“I was telling my teammates that he makes the game look effortless at times.
“Only a handful of players in this league possess such a fluid style of play. He is among them.
“We consider ourselves fortunate to have him. His performance against Manchester United was outstanding throughout the match.
“He was winning aerial duels and looked Cruyff-like — making moves you’d typically associate with Manchester United stars.”
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“This is not simply showboating. It’s his way of managing pressure situations.
“You’re not trying to flaunt your skills when the score is level; that’s just his brain operating at a superior level compared to others.”
Wolves fan takes extreme measures to distract Justin Kluivert during a penalty in a loss to Bournemouth
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Cunha may also face a potential suspension from the Premier League due to an incident involving an Ipswich security guard following Wolves’ home defeat on December 14.
This could present a challenge, as Doherty aims for the Wanderers to strengthen their position away from relegation by asserting themselves in matches.
The effectiveness of Wolves’ in-swinging corners has been highlighted, with Cunha scoring directly from one against United, similar to what Spurs accomplished earlier in the month during the Carabao Cup.
Doherty confirms that Wolves are refining their set-piece tactics to capitalize on opportunities while reducing goals against them.
He played a role in Cunha’s goal against United, contrary to goalkeeper Andre Onana’s claims of obstruction.
Doherty disagrees, asserting: “Football is a contact sport, right? Goalkeepers aren’t invincible.
“I understand it could be deemed a foul if a keeper is airborne and gets nudged.
“However, in this instance, I was simply positioning myself to block — and I believe he was behind me anyhow.
“There was some contact, but the ball just sailed into the far corner. It’s part of the game; these things happen to keepers, it’s tough for them.
“We are focusing on set-pieces, and I think everyone is aware of that. That’s what we set out to achieve with the corner.
“We intended to deliver it right on top of him and see what happens.
“Also, that play happened in the first half, and I can’t comprehend how the keeper managed to stop it; it was remarkable.”
“Set-pieces are crucial to the game. They can influence the final result. We’ve had challenges with them in the past.
“However, we’ve made progress in conceding fewer goals from set-pieces, and winning games seems to follow suit.”
Johan Cruyff’s career statistics
The innovator behind the ‘Cruyff Turn’ also secured three Ballon d’Or awards…
- Ajax, 1964-1973: 329 matches, 257 goals
- Barcelona, 1973-1978: 227 matches, 85 goals
- Los Angeles Aztecs, 1979: 26 matches, 15 goals
- Washington Diplomats, 1980: 26 matches, 10 goals
- Levante, 1980-1981: 10 matches, 2 goals
- Washington Diplomats, 1981: 5 matches, 2 goals
- Ajax, 1981-1983: 46 matches, 16 goals
- Feyenoord, 1983-1984: 44 matches, 13 goals
- Netherlands, 1966-1977: 48 matches, 33 goals
Trophies
- Ajax: Eredivisie x8, Dutch Cup x5, European Cup x3, European Super Cup, Intercontinental Cup
- Barcelona: La Liga, Copa del Rey
- Feyenoord: Eredivisie, Dutch Cup
Managerial career
- Ajax, 1985-1988: P117 W86 D10 L21
- Barcelona, 1988-1996: P430 W250 D97 L83
- Catalonia, 2009-2013: P4 W2 D2 L0
Trophies
- Ajax: Dutch Cup x2, European Cup Winners’ Cup
- Barcelona: La Liga x4, Copa del Rey, Spanish Super Cup x3, European Cup, European Cup Winners’ Cup, European Super Cup
