Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim has delivered a stark public assessment of midfielder Manuel Ugarte's situation, directly challenging the Uruguayan to improve his performances in training to overcome his current poor form.
The Struggle for Minutes
Ugarte, who arrived at Old Trafford in a £50.5million transfer in August 2024 before Amorim's appointment, is experiencing a difficult period. His opportunities have drastically diminished, with the manager granting him just 27 total minutes across United's last three matches.
Amorim openly acknowledged the player's struggles, telling reporters, "You are here longer than me and you can sense that a lot of very good players come here and sometimes they struggle. He is struggling in the moment, but it is our job to try to help our players and again, everything can change."
The Path to Redemption
The Portuguese coach pinpointed the training ground as the critical area for improvement. "I know that Ugarte is struggling in the moment, and my job is trying to help him to feel as a player, like I felt when he was a Sporting player, for example," Amorim stated. "But it is a different world and he needs to adapt and he needs to improve, especially in training."
Only five outfield players have featured less under Amorim this season:
- Tyler Fredricson (45 minutes)
- Joshua Zirkzee (90 minutes)
- Ayden Heaven (92 minutes)
- Noussair Mazraoui (203 minutes)
- Kobbie Mainoo (228 minutes)
Mounting Pressure and Future Plans
Ugarte's path back into the first team is further complicated by Casemiro's renaissance and Amorim's tactical decision to deploy Bruno Fernandes in a deeper midfield role.
Compounding the pressure on the 23-year-old, Manchester United are reportedly planning a significant midfield overhaul next summer. The club has several potential targets on their radar:
- Elliot Anderson
- Adam Wharton
- Carlos Baleba
- Joao Gomes
When questioned about potential signings, Amorim responded, "It is hard to say that [we are looking at midfield signings now], but I think we can add in the future. I don't know when… sometimes it is not the quality of the players, it is the characteristics of the players, and we can improve in some areas in our club."
Despite the external speculation, the manager affirmed his commitment to his current squad, adding, "I am happy with the guys that we have in the moment and I think they have so much more to give. So it is my job to think about them, not the other guys that are not here."
