Ruben Amorim
Ruben Amorim could drop one of his key players against Tottenham
When Manchester United appointed Ruben Amorim last November, Manuel Ugarte would have breathed a sigh of relief. After a slow start to life at Old Trafford following his £50million switch from Paris St-Germain, a reunion with his former Sporting coach looked just the ticket.
Ugarte prospered in Lisbon in Amorim's 3-4-2-1 system, playing as one of the two deeper midfielders and earning a move to PSG. He never really built any momentum in Paris and, a year later, was on the move again, joining United despite not being the top target of then-manager Erik ten Hag.
The Urugayan had a slow start under Ten Hag, but interim boss Ruud van Nistelrooy gave him four starts and then he saw the appointment of Amorim as his time to shine. He was already the coach he had played the most football under, and almost half of his 245 career appearances have come under the Portuguese.
In the early weeks of Amorim's reign, Ugarte did an interview with Sky Sports, offering insight into Amorim's system, why it works, what he wants from his midfielders, and why it favours him.
"I think the most important thing is to always be the balance. To be a help to the defence. To recover the ball and to maintain the ball, to maintain possession," said Ugarte.
"I think these are the most important things and, well, these are the things that favour me. Because those are features of my game. I think that's the best thing I have. These are the things that complement each other, and that's good.
"I already know it. I already know how it is and that favours me to a certain extent.
"He always wants a midfielder a little more fixed and another that is a little more loose, that can move more, a bit more freedom.
Amorim also praised Ugarte in the early weeks of his Old Trafford tenure, saying, “Ugarte is a very talented boy and has a lot of room to grow. I am very happy to know that I have him back at Manchester United."
The stats bear that out. Ugarte has started 28 of Amorim's 40 games in charge, including both legs against Lyon and Athletic Bilbao in the Europa League quarter-final and semi-final. He had developed a good partnership with Casemiro during the run to the final and the return to Bilbao.
But Ugarte might be about to find himself the fall guy at the most unfortunate time. He looked like the natural heir to Casemiro when he was signed last summer, and even more so when the five-time Champions League winner disappeared from the picture in January. Amorim said the Brazilian didn't have the characteristics to play in his team, and his days look numbered.
The former Real Madrid midfielder has staged a stunning revival, however, helped by the way he has dominated opponents in the Europa League, where the pace and intensity of the game hasn’t exposed him in the same way as it has in the Premier League. Conversely, the return of his confidence has gradually seen his domestic performances pick up as well.
He looks a certain starter at San Mames now, and his withdrawal for Ugarte after 70 minutes at Stamford Bridge on Friday was evidence of that. The question is who starts alongside him.
Bruno Fernandes has recently returned to a No. 10 role, but he thrived in a deeper position earlier in the campaign. A partnership of Casemiro and Fernandes fits the Amorim idea of having a fixed midfielder and then Fernandes playing with a little more freedom.
Amorim might also be emboldened to do away with the partnership of Casemiro and Ugarte before of the injuries Spurs are suffering with. The absence of James Maddison, Dejan Kulusevski and even Lucas Bergvall have robbed Ange Postecoglou of his most creative midfielders.
If Tottenham go with a more workmanlike midfield of Rodrigo Bentancur, Yves Bissouma and Pape Matar Sarr, then do United really need Ugarte and Casemiro? By moving Fernandes back, it will allow Amoirm to field two of Amad, Mason Mount and Alejandro Garnacho as No. 10s.
That will mean more match-winners and more creative players on the pitch. It could tip the balance United's way, given a game with so much riding on it is likely to be decided by one of those players who can rise above the tension.
Ugarte's form has dropped at the worst possible time recently, and his poor performance against West Ham could be costly. Amorim refused to single him out for criticism after that 2-0 defeat at Old Trafford, but he was benched against Chelsea and could remain there on the biggest day of the season.
It will be a ruthless call from Amorim, but it might just be the right one.