-Credit:Manchester United/Manchester United via Getty Images.
After a slow start to life in England, Manuel Ugarte is starting to find his feet in a Manchester United shirt.
Fresh from producing a very eye-catching performance against Liverpool at Anfield, the Uruguay international delivered another dogged showing against Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium in the FA Cup on Sunday afternoon.
For the second game running, he started alongside Kobbie Mainoo in the centre of midfield, tasked with stifling the home side and giving United as much grit and determination as possible.
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The 23-year-old is quickly establishing himself as the midfield battering ram United have been lacking. He was not as destructive as he was against Liverpool, highlighted by his tackle count stopping at two, but he was just as determined to roll up his sleeves and leave everything on the pitch.
And that was reflected in the former Paris Saint-Germain midfielder’s post-match social media message. Reacting to the game, he posted on Instagram: “When we have the ball, it’s a game and when we don’t, it’s a fight. Let’s keep it going always together.”
Ugarte’s social media message, specifically the reference to the need to ‘fight’, is the sort of thing United supporters have been longing for from members of the squad. United have regularly been criticised for displaying a poor mentality in recent years, but their last two performances have suggested Ruben Amorim is in the process of fixing that problem.
Ugarte has been a big part of that fix, being signed in the summer to offer United the aggression they have lacked in midfield for far too long. He thrives on winning the ball back and doing the dirty side of the game.
Despite struggling to force his way into Erik ten Hag’s plans after his arrival from PSG at the end of August, the midfielder was informed by the former United manager that he would help United with their ‘fight’.
In a video that was released by the club, showing behind-the-scenes footage of Ugarte being given a tour of the training ground after joining United, Ten Hag and Ugarte approached a wall within the training ground complex that had ‘unite & fight’ written on it.
Erik ten Hag (right) knew Manuel Ugarte would bring the ‘fight’ to Manchester United. -Credit:Manchester United Football Club on YouTube.
Ten Hag pointed to the word ‘fight’ on the wall and told Ugarte: “This guy brings us the fight.” Ugarte was initially confused as to what Ten Hag was referring to, asking: “Who?”
Once he understood the point Ten Hag was making, Ugarte said: “It is normal for me to fight. It’s normal.”
Based on his recent showings, which have been much-improved since being reunited with Amorim, with whom he worked with at Sporting Lisbon, Ugarte has regularly demonstrated that fighting spirit, frequently being an aggressor in midfield.
Ugarte is developing a strong midfield relationship with Mainoo, offering United fans encouragement that their midfield woes may finally be solved with what could be a long-term solution. Ugarte is the disciplinarian United have lacked in the middle.