Yoro made his appearance in the second half but is still searching for his first goal after nine matches. Another key signing, Manuel Ugarte, who joined for £42 million on deadline day, has had a challenging start.
Initially seen as a solution to Manchester United’s midfield issues, particularly in comparison to Casemiro, Ugarte’s performances have faltered, with his poor showing in the 3-0 loss to Tottenham contributing to his absence in the following two games.
Many assumed Ugarte was simply rested for the Europa League clash against Porto, but his exclusion from the starting lineup in the next match suggests otherwise. Instead, Christian Eriksen and Kobbie Mainoo were chosen in midfield, with Casemiro, whom Ugarte was expected to replace, coming off the bench. It appears that manager Erik ten Hag may be reconsidering Ugarte’s role in the team.
Despite this, Ugarte still has time to prove himself, having only played four Premier League games so far, and his recent call-up to Uruguay for World Cup qualifiers may help him regain form.
Before his transfer, Ugarte had not played for Paris Saint-Germain, and his initial appearances for United came as a substitute while he regained fitness. His omission from crucial substitutions in recent games is concerning, particularly when United could have benefited from additional midfield support in matches against Porto and Aston Villa.
United’s next match at home against Brentford could offer Ugarte a chance to turn things around. However, if he remains on the bench, questions may arise about Ten Hag’s decision to sign him. Fans are also keeping an eye on Matthijs De Ligt, who has struggled to find his form after being given a chance due to Harry Maguire’s injury.
Diogo Dalot continues to fill in at left-back, covering for the injured Luke Shaw and Tyrell Malacia, though he is expected to return to right-back once one of them recovers. Additionally, Joshua Zirkzee, who was signed as a backup striker, is yet to make a significant impact, with Rasmus Hojlund recovering from injury.
Overall, United’s new signings under Ten Hag are struggling to integrate and make an impact, adding pressure on the manager amidst the team’s inconsistent performances.
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