Wolverhampton striker Matheus Cunha has expressed the high pressure placed on him in terms of discipline, after being suspended twice and receiving a straight red card for violent conduct this season.
The 25-year-old player was sent off and walked off the pitch in the final minute of added time of the FA Cup fifth-round match against Bournemouth in March, after a confrontation with defender Milos Kerkez.
Cunha was suspended for four Premier League matches and fined £50,000 ($66,000) for his actions. This happened after a previous suspension in December for misconduct, after elbowing an Ipswich staff member before removing their glasses from their face.
We’re laughing now, but it’s a big responsibility. I even wanted to have a career without any expulsions.
Matheus Cunha
Cunha, when asked about his suspensions, recounted:
I joke with my father that, right after I was sent off, the first ‘serious words’ I receive, long before the coach and everyone else, are at home. ‘Son, no matter what player you are, you are still my son and that’s something I never taught you.’ Therefore, those internal frustrations and those processes that nobody sees are the ones that impact the most. It’s when your father is sad with you, when your family is sad with you, not sad, because I think they understand you, but they are disappointed by the attitudes you had at that moment.
Matheus Cunha
The Wolves striker was suspended for two matches by the FA following his confrontation with Ipswich Town security staff after a Premier League match in December.
The Brazilian international was charged with misconduct and fined £80,000 after it was alleged that he acted inappropriately.
Cunha added:
Despite any responsibility I may assume as a footballer, I have to understand that this is a football field, with all possible emotions, which we have to control as much as possible. It will serve as a lesson for me now, to a large extent. I hope I don’t have to go through the situation of seeing a red card in front of me again, only if it’s the opponent who hits me, but today I’m fine. Afterwards it was difficult to talk about it, because you feel very disappointed, very frustrated by the action you took. But today I understand, today I am sure that it was not meant to be done like this, and next time I will be calmer, my head will be clearer and I will not fail in the same way as I did in the past.
Matheus Cunha
Cunha is expected to leave Molineux before next season, with Manchester United exploring the possibility of activating the release clause in his contract.
