Manchester United fans are hoping Manuel Ugarte can make a difference to the team, and there is good reason to believe he will.
After watching Manchester United get overrun on transitions once again, this time at home to Liverpool, it was clear the team need a specific type of player.
A no-nonsense tackler who hunts down opposing attackers, a player prolific in winning the ball back for his team, and gaining possession back.
This very player was in stands, and introduced at Old Trafford with his new number 25 shirt. The problem was Manuel Ugarte was simply ineligible to feature due to his late signing, and as Erik ten Hag also wanted to point out – also needing to work on his fitness.
- READ: Who is Manuel Ugarte? Everything you need to know on Uruguay midfielder
Getting the best out of Manuel Ugarte
Manchester United need Manuel Ugarte to add some tenacity to the midfield and take some pressure off Kobbie Mainoo.
Casemiro was a problem in Manchester United’s defeat to Liverpool, and Ugarte can help Erik ten Hag solve the issue.
French football expert Julien Laurens believes Ugarte will do a lot of good for Manchester United – but also urges Erik ten Hag not to ask him to try and be too expansive in possession.
Laurens said: “He’s a really good player. Him and Kobbie Mainoo I think could be a really good partnership. At PSG he was really good at the beginning, he presses well, he runs a lot, he works so hard, he recovers a lot of the ball, he’s like the enforcer that you need.
“On the ball he has some limitations, Luis Enrique wanted a six that was much better on the ball.
“Ugarte will be great at United if the build-up structure at United is not built around him. This is a key signing out of position for your team. He’s going to do so much great work for you.”
Casemiro shows Ugarte challenge
One of the problems for Casemiro at Manchester United is he is being asked to do too much, and play the kind of passes which led to him giving away chances leading to two goals against Liverpool.
Bruno Fernandes described the passes as showing bravery – but they were also poor choices, and poorly executed.
Casemiro is not going off-script, this is part of United’s structure. Will Manuel Ugarte be asked to play the same kind of passes?
If Ugarte’s game plan is kept simple, to win the ball back, and play a straightforward pass to a teammate, he could be a terrific signing and highly effective in what he does.
Erik ten Hag needs to allow him to do so. If the manager frequently puts Ugarte in a position where the field is stretched, and there are no easy passes, then something will have gone wrong, and the Uruguayan could end up falling into the same traps Casemiro has.
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