United’s new number 25 made his full debut against Barnsley on Tuesday night. How did he get on and what can we expect from him this season?
The Uruguayan midfielder can be best understood as a defensive screen player. The busy body behind the creative midfielders who hurries around the pitch cleaning up defensive mistakes and playing passes to the more creative outlets in the side. Think N’Golo Kanté (too far?).
The positives
Playing for 62 minutes , Ugarte was a constant thorn in (an underwhelming) Barnsley’s side. Contesting 12 duels we got a flavour of exactly what to expect in the future, someone who likes to get stuck in. Just like Fred, his work rate is sure to make him a quick fan favourite. A midfielder who is not afraid to put a foot in and make a challenge or foul when needed.
In possession I thought Ugarte had a surprisingly solid performance. Calm under pressure, Ugarte often wasn’t scared to take the extra touch to ensure he found the right pass or slip a pass through the lines when presented the opportunity. While it’s certain he will face much tougher tests, this was a good sign for someone widely touted as sub-optimal in possession.
The negatives
With less than 90 minutes in the tank in a United shirt, it’s hard to make any certain statements on exactly how Ugarte will pan out. But from the small sample size we can see some patterns that may indicate what we are in store for.
Committing 6 fouls in his cameo last night, Ugarte was certainly fortunate to escape without a booking. Had this been a more hotly contested fixture, I’m sure he’d have had his name taken down. Again, this is caveated by the lack of match sharpness and may be an indicator of a player not fully up to speed, it’s a warning sign that referees in the Premier League may quickly become accustomed to Ugarte.
The next Kanté?
No, at least not yet. The jovial comparison is used more as a jibe at rival fans who think United have made yet another mistake in midfield recruitment. While of course he will face tougher tests, the dynamics of a Ugarte, Mainoo, Fernandes midfield three should complement each other nicely
The midfield destroyer, carrier and creator combination could yet prove a winning formula for manager Erik Ten Hag.
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