BBC Sport pundit Troy Deeney has named his official Premier League Team of the Week, singling out Nottingham Forest central defender Jair Cunha for an “exceptional” performance after the Brazilian completely neutralized Manchester City megastar Erling Haaland during a shocking 3-1 victory at the City Ground.
Oliver Glasner’s side produced arguably the performance of the 2026-27 Premier League season on Saturday, storming into an unbelievable 2-0 lead inside the opening 20 minutes before showing immense second-half resolve to blow Pep Guardiola’s title challengers off the pitch.
While two-goal hero Liam Delap and mid-field engine Ryan Yates grabbed major headlines, Deeney focused his analytical praise on the 25-year-old Brazilian defender who turned Trentside into an absolute fortress.
”Exceptional at Sniffing Out Danger”: Deeney Exposes Cunha’s Masterclass
Writing for BBC Sport, the former Premier League striker lauded Cunha’s tactical awareness, physical dominance, and composure against the world’s most feared goalscorer:
“Exceptional. His goal helps, but exceptional at sniffing out the danger. Erling Haaland didn’t have a sniff of a goal in Man City’s defeat by Forest.
“Cunha will need to be really good going forward if they’re the team Oliver Glasner wants.”
Not only did Cunha erase Haaland from the match, but he also provided the game’s defining moment by scoring Forest’s first home goal of the entire season.
Dispossessing Man City defender Joško Gvardiol high up the pitch, Cunha surged forward and hit a crisp, striker-like finish past Stefan Ortega, igniting the John Robertson Stand and putting Forest on the path to an iconic victory.
Keeping £40m Ousmane Diomandé on the Bench
Cunha’s meteoric rise under Glasner has completely flipped Nottingham Forest’s defensive hierarchy upside down.
Despite Forest investing £40 million to sign Ousmane Diomandé, Cunha’s blistering form has kept the big-money signing firmly glued to the substitutes’ bench over the opening 10 matches of the campaign:
- International Reward: Following his masterclass against Man City, Cunha will jet off to join the Brazil national team for upcoming international fixtures.
- Club Legend Praise: Former Forest midfielder Steve Stone also raved about Cunha’s progress, emphasizing that the defender is finally getting national recognition for his elite tactical output.
The Blueprint for Glasner’s Rebound
With Forest snapping their five-match winless streak in grand fashion and moving out of the bottom three, Cunha’s resurgence provides Glasner with the exact defensive anchor needed to climb the Premier League standings.
If Jair Cunha maintains this world-class form alongside Murillo after the international break, no attack in European football will look forward to visiting the City Ground.
