Manuel Ugarte speaks openly about his poor Man United form
By Kian Long
Manuel Ugarte made his first Europa League start for Man United in unfavourable conditions. He is the first to criticise himself for his lack of form.
New Man United signing Manuel Ugarte was a starter for Man United in the UEFA Europa League, with manager Erik ten Hag hoping to bring him up to speed.
Unfortunately, it was not a favourable European debut for the midfielder against FC Twente. Manuel Ugarte looked out of the loop throughout a lot of the match and struggled to assert any authority on the result.
By no means was Manuel Ugarte the worst player on the pitch but given his novelty status, he was under the limelight. Now, he has been the first to critique his own form.
Manuel Ugarte speaks openly about his poor Man United form
Posting to X (formerly Twitter), Manuel Ugarte virtually held his hands in the air. He claimed that he is the first to criticise himself and took responsibility for having a poor game against FC Twente.
In his own words (translated to English), Manuel Ugarte said: "The first to criticize himself. It wasn't a great game on a personal level. We have to keep working."
While it is not nice to see a Man United player down on themself, particularly considering they are adapting to Premier League life, it is good that Manuel Ugarte holds himself a high standard.
Last night's performance was not disastrous, simply rusty. He is still understanding Man United's tactics, and didn't look fully on board with his teammates. Going forward, he can only improve.
Erik ten Hag clearly sees something in Manuel Ugarte. Otherwise, he would not be a Man United player. He is a player with high ceiling, so Man United fans should definitely stick by him.
At this stage, it would be unfair to pinpoint any individual Man United player as being at fault. Their shortcomings are a result of collective impotence.
Going forward, the aim of Erik ten Hag is to form a collective identity. Being a midfielder who is known for his possession-based skillset, Manuel Ugarte will be at the heart of Man United's philosophy going forward.
This can be perceived in a positive or negative light, but Manuel Ugarte has shown he's not afraid to take risks. He took on a shot from outside the box, demonstrating he is willing to step up when others are not. One of these days, that shot will hit the back of the net, and his confidence will soar.