Manuel Ugarte Takes A Long Time To Budget And Defend Manchester United

Manuel Ugarte has just been introduced and has not debuted for Manchester United (Instagram/@ugastemu).

JAKARTA - Erik ten Hag has not been able to play his new player, Manuel Ugarte, when Manchester United host Liverpool in the third week at Old Trafford, Sunday, September 1, 2024.

Ugarte was only introduced to the public Old Trafford before the match started. He then left the pitch without watching the Red Devils beat Liverpool 0-3.

Ten Hag said Ugarte was not fit. The midfielder who was brought in from Paris Saint-Germain took months to achieve maximum physical fitness and came down to defend Manchester United.

"With Ugarte, we have to build it into the team. It will take time. So, I'm not like Harry Potter. That's what you have to understand."

"Jika Anda melihat Manuel Ugarte, dia belum bermain sejauh ini. Tidak satu menit pertandingan."

"So, he needs to build his fitness level and then we have to build it in the team."

"I'm sure he will contribute to our level. He will be an important player, but it will take several weeks, maybe even months," said Erik ten Hag.

Meanwhile, new Manchester United players, such as Matthijs de Ligt, Noussair Mazraoui, and Joshua Zirkzee have already started against Liverpool.

However, Erik ten Hag is also not satisfied with the new three players' fitness level even though they have appeared in the first three weeks of the 2024/2025 Premier League.

De Ligt has packed a total of 89 minutes from three league games, one of which is a starter and the rest is a substitute.

Then, Zirkzee packed 160 minutes from three parties with details of one starter and two substitutes.

Only Mazraoui has more playing minutes, which is 261 minutes. All three matches he has started.

The Morocco defender performed full in the final two matches of Manchester United against Brighton and Liverpool. Meanwhile, against Fulham, he was replaced in the 81st minute.

"That applies to more players. Joshua Zirkzee, he's made a big move in the last three or four weeks."

"I'm very happy with his performance against Liverpool, but I didn't expect this four weeks ago."

"It (against Liverpool) was De Ligt's first start, Zirkzee's first start, also for Alejandaro Garnacho this season."

"We still have some players who are not available. We'll be fine, but obviously we have to improve our abilities."

"In two years, we won two awards and at the end of the season I'm pretty sure we'll have a great opportunity to raise others," said Ten Hag again.