Manuel Ugarte’s introduction to Old Trafford was not the grand spectacle he had hoped for. The new £50 million midfielder narrowly avoided being drenched by sprinklers on the pitch and witnessed his team’s 3-0 defeat against rivals Liverpool. With lofty expectations placed on him, Ugarte now finds himself under immense pressure to be the solution to Manchester United’s longstanding midfield issues.
The midfield conundrum at Manchester United is not a recent development. Since Sir Alex Ferguson’s retirement in 2013, the club has struggled to fill the defensive midfield position adequately. The signings of players like Bastian Schweinsteiger, Nemanja Matic, and Casemiro were not able to address the issues at hand. The lack of a world-class defensive midfielder has been a glaring gap in United’s squad for over a decade.
Enter Manuel Ugarte, the young midfielder signed from Paris Saint-Germain with high hopes pinned on his shoulders. Ugarte’s attributes such as youthful energy, athleticism, tenacity, and defensive awareness make him a promising prospect for United. The club is banking on him to provide the much-needed stability and control in midfield that has been lacking for so long.
However, Ugarte’s task is not an easy one. The pressure to perform from the get-go is immense, especially given the team’s recent struggles. With the likes of Casemiro failing to live up to expectations, Ugarte is expected to step in and make an immediate impact. The expectations placed on him are sky-high, and the margin for error is slim.
Manager Erik ten Hag will look to Ugarte to solidify the defensive midfield position alongside Kobbie Mainoo. The duo is expected to provide a stronger, more balanced midfield partnership that can control games and prevent opponents from dominating the central third of the pitch. Ugarte’s presence is hoped to address the longstanding midfield issues that have plagued United for years.
The pressure on Manuel Ugarte to succeed at Manchester United is immense. As the club’s latest attempt to solve their midfield crisis, Ugarte faces a daunting task ahead. While the expectations are high, only time will tell if he can live up to the hype and truly be the missing piece that United have been searching for. The road ahead will be challenging, but if Ugarte can rise to the occasion, he may just be the player to finally bring stability to Manchester United’s midfield.