Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim has addressed Manuel Ugarte’s recent performances.
Ruben Amorim has been quizzed about midfielder Manuel Ugarte, who has had a difficult season so far.
After being dropped for the Europa League Final and playing poorly in pre-season, Manuel Ugarte has been unable to stop his slide in form.
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Ugarte has lost his place to a resurgent Casemiro, and United are statistically a worse team whenever the Uruguayan is on the pitch.
This was highlighted before the international break in the 2-2 draw against Tottenham, where the midfielder produced another poor cameo performance.
With United looking at remodelling the midfield, it is hard to see where Ugarte fits in, with his 2024 transfer beginning to look like an error.
Manchester United FC v Ipswich Town FC - Premier League
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After his latest performances, do you want Casemiro to sign a one-year contract extension?
Ruben Amorim on Manuel Ugarte
Speaking in the second part of his pre-Everton press conference, Ruben Amorim admits he has to work hard to try and get Manuel Ugarte up to the right level.
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Amorim knows Ugarte from their time at Sporting, but he is under no illusion that the Premier League is quicker and more unforgiving.
He said: “A lot of very good players come here and sometimes they struggle. He is struggling in the moment, but it is our job to try and help our players.”
Amorim hopes that United’s unbeaten run will make for a more relaxed environment for Ugarte to thrive.
“Again, everything can change. You saw it, five weeks ago, the environment was completely different.
“I know that Ugarte is struggling in the moment and my job is to help him to feel, as a player, like I felt when he was a Sporting player.”
Amorim crucially says that any change ultimately comes down to Manuel Ugarte, and brutally called out him out, saying he must improve in training sessions as well as on the pitch.
He sai: “It’s a different role and he needs to adapt, and he needs to improve, especially in training.”
It’s rare for a coach to call out a player’s training performances. We once saw it with Erik ten Hag and Jadon Sancho – and we know how that ended.
Ugarte is far more professional than Sancho, but whether he has the ability to win over his coach and supporters, remains to be seen.
Man Utd’s best +/-
Casemiro: +8
Amad: +5
Senne Lammens: +5
Luke Shaw: +3
Noussair Mazraoui: +3
Man Utd’s worst +/-
Altay Bayindir: -4
Manuel Ugarte: -7
Are you confident Manchester United will beat Everton?
Ugarte goal came vs Everton
It is most likely that Manuel Ugarte is on the bench when Manchester United face Everton at Old Trafford on Monday night.
But with Kobbie Mainoo declared an injury doubt in Amorim’s Friday press conference, there is a chance that Ugarte sees some action at some point.
Last season Manuel Ugarte scored his only ever Premier League goals against David Moyes’ Everton, in the 2-2 draw at Goodison Park.
It would be great timing individually if he could get back on the scoresheet against the same opponent.