Manchester United are under heavy scrutiny from fans and pundits following their dismal performance in the ongoing season of the English Premier League 2024/25.
Following a hard-fought victory against Fulham (1-0) in their season opener, the English club has faced back-to-back defeats, first against Brighton (2-1), followed by an utter humiliation by Liverpool at the Old Trafford (3-0), which raised a lot of questions on the players’ performances and tactical decisions of their manager Erik Ten Hag.
However, opening up on the summer transfer window, the Red Devils have roped in a lot of talent across Europe to strengthen their midfield and defensive ranks.
As things proceed, Ten Hag has spilt beans on United’s second most expensive signing in the recently closed summer transfer window.
Ten Hag sheds light on Manuel Ugarte’s prospect
The United manager has recently presented his thoughts on their new defensive midfielder Manuel Ugarte, whom the club has brought from the French giants Paris Saint Germain. The Uruguayan international was presented in front of the home crowd at the Old defeat before the United’s embarrassing defeat against Liverpool.
Shedding light on how Ugarte will be unfolded in the squad, Ten Hag clearly said that the 23-year-old has not even got to play a single minute of football this season and it will surely take an uncertain amount of time for the young lad to build upon his fitness and get fit and adjusted within the team’s dynamics.
“If you see Manuel Ugarte, he didn’t play so far in the season. Not one match minute. So he needs to build his fitness and then we have to build him in the team and I’m sure he’ll be an important player. But that will take a couple of weeks, maybe even months.”
mirror.co.uk
The former Ajax manager had special praise for their other fresh signing Joshua Zrikzee, considering how flexibly he got merged within the team’s plan and his exceptional performance despite the team’s defeat against their bitter rivals on their home ground.
“Joshua Zirkzee, he made big steps in the last three or four weeks and I was very pleased with his performance today.”
mirror.co.uk
United currently stand in the 14th position in the points table, with just three points and a single win in their first three games. It would be really exciting to see how the Red Devils will bounce back as the highly anticipated season of the English Premier League proceeds and what role their new signings will play in the club’s project.
The record Premier League title winners will take on Southampton at the Saint Mary’s Stadium on September 14 following the international break.