Manchester United midfielder Manuel Ugarte has not had an easy start at all at the club.
After Casemiro’s nightmare performance against Liverpool, Manchester United were desperate for new signing Manuel Ugarte to step in.
Erik ten Hag did point out that he was worried Ugarte might take weeks or months for Ugarte to be fully fit, and the Uruguayan certainly seems to be lacking sharpness.
Ugarte struggled against Tottenham, although as United fans pointed out, Ugarte may be being let down by the system, on his first ever Premier League start.
Give Ugarte the benefit of the doubt
Manuel Ugarte was an easy target to criticise. He’s a big money player, one who was built up as an instant quick-fix for the team’s problems.
It has become very apparent that United’s problems cannot be solved by one player. Erik ten Hag is responsible.
Speaking to US channel NBC Sports, former Premier League midfielder Robbie Earle made clear that he feels sorry for Ugarte, rather than wanting to criticise him.
He explained: “It’s hard to sometime see what they are trying to do. I felt a little sorry for Ugarte, he’s come to Manchester United as big midfield player, he’s going to play with Kobbie Mainoo, and then around him there’s all kind of chaos.
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“Nobody really looks like they know what they are doing, it must be so difficult for a new player, an international quality player, to come into that team and do your job in the way you think, or expect to do your job.”
Manuel Ugarte could thrive in Porto
Manuel Ugarte could retain his place for Manchester United’s Europa League fixture with FC Porto.
Ugarte has experience playing in Portugal for former club Sporting, and has enjoyed many battles at the Porto’s Dragao stadium.
It’s a game he will be well suited for, perhaps at a slightly less frenetic pace than the Premier League, which he is still adjusting to a little.
Whether he will retain his place for the Premier League against Aston Villa is less clear. A very tough tie awaits on Sunday, with Erik ten Hag under major pressure.