In the 7th round of the 2024-25 Premier League season, Manchester United drew 0-0 away to Villa. Manchester United have now gone five games without a win, and Ten Hag has once again been caught in a whirlpool of doubts after the game, and his employment has also been questioned. In this game, Uruguay iron waist Ugarte sat on the bench for the whole game, and this is the second consecutive game that he has not appeared for a minute, which is also quite surprising.
Manchester United's €60 million signing of Ugarte from Paris this summer is not only another sky-high signing, but also reflects the club's high hopes for the Uruguay international as a cornerstone of United's rebuilding midfield. However, Ugarte's on-field role does not appear to have been fully trusted by Ten Hag. Despite the difficulties faced by Manchester United's midfield since his arrival, Ugarte's role in the game seems to be increasingly marginalized. Fans and pundits alike have speculated whether Ten Hag has tactical concerns about Ugarte's use or if Ugarte's current form does not meet the coaching staff's expectations.
In the first five games for the team, Ugarte has won two, drawn two and lost one, and overall, Ugarte's arrival seems to have brought new energy to the team's midfield. As a midfielder with excellent defensive ability and ball control skills, Ugarte's solid defence and tough interception ability were once seen as a good antidote to United's midfield problems. However, as the season progressed, Ugarte's playing time gradually diminished, especially in the last two games, where he did not get any appearances.
Judging by Ugarte's previous performances in Ligue 1 and the national team, he is undoubtedly a strong player, and the hardness of his defense is also an element that is currently lacking in Manchester United's midfield. During his time at Grand Paris, Ugarte became an important part of the team's defensive system with his excellent midfield interception ability and tireless movement. It is on the basis of these qualities that United have decided to spend heavily on him in the squad this summer.
Ten Hag has spent more than £600 million in the transfer market since taking charge, changing almost the entire team's starting line-up. However, the team has had a mediocre start to the season, with just two wins, two draws and three defeats in the first seven Premier League games, making the worst start of the Premier League period and currently sitting at the bottom of the table. The team has exposed a number of problems at both the offensive and defensive ends, and the midfield in particular lacks a barrier that can stabilize the tempo. At this time, Ugarte, who was signed with a lot of money, is not needed, and it is no wonder that the outside world will question it.
After this round of the league, the league will usher in a break from the national team break. If United's hierarchy decide not to change managers during this period, Ten Hag will continue to face challenges after that. The next game will be against Brentford in the league before facing Jose Mourinho's Fenerbahce in the Europa League. If there is any "winter melon tofu" in these two games, it is a high probability that Ten Hag will be out of class, we will wait and see!