Ibragimov recounts Cunha’s direct training advice

Amir Ibragimov says Matheus Cunha’s direct advice helped him understand what training with Manchester United’s first team demands. The 18-year-old midfielder described the episode on the Inside Carrington podcast. He also discussed his experience after captaining Manchester United in a UEFA Youth League match against Atlético Madrid.

Ibragimov singled out Cunha as one of the senior players who helped him adjust to the intensity of the sessions. He believes being young does not mean being spared: academy players must also face demanding training. The senior players challenged him from the moment he joined, he said, with tackles coming from the outset. He considers that approach positive because it exposes him to the group’s expectations.

Cunha’s advice followed a specific incident. After a challenge in training, Ibragimov went to ground and expected a foul to be given. Coaches generally encourage players to keep the game moving rather than stop after every contact. Cunha made his expectations clear: “Next time, I don’t want to hear you at all. I want you to get up and carry on,” Ibragimov recalled.

The youngster says he followed the instruction literally. He went on to score, prompting Cunha to tell him: “See, this is exactly what I mean.” The exchange helped strengthen their relationship. Ibragimov said Cunha continued talking to him and explaining what was required, while urging him to listen and learn. “If he didn’t like me, he wouldn’t have helped me,” he recalled.

Ibragimov also praised Bruno Fernandes’s support, while saying he had recently built a good connection with Cunha. He described the forward as “a really good guy” and said he had benefited from his willingness to speak frankly. Learning to get up and continue, he explained, is part of the transition from academy player to someone able to meet the demands of Manchester United’s highest level at Carrington.