Manuel Ugarte image 25

Manuel Ugarte Uruguay flag

2024-25 Performances

View full 2024-25 profile

5.9 Season Average Rating
Appearances
45
Goals
2
Assists
6
Yellow cards
14
While Ugarte may not be on the same level as players like Rice or Kante, I believe Amorim would get far more out of him by deploying him in a similar role - as a box-to-box No. 8. We saw glimpses of this in the Lyon game, and it’s become even more apparent since Casemiro’s return to the side. Ugarte's high energy, relentless work rate, and ability to counter-press and win the ball back high up the pitch make him a real asset off the ball. Utilising him further up the pitch would allow the team to be more aggressive and effective without possession.

In turn, this would allow us to target a deep-lying playmaker - someone who can dictate the tempo and progress the ball from deep. Amorim himself alluded to this issue when he explained why he initially moved Bruno Fernandes into a deeper role, stating that the team lacked a player capable of progressing play consistently. However, following the tactical adjustment to Casemiro's role, which now sees him more involved in the build-up, Fernandes has returned to his more natural 10 position.

While Casemiro has done a reasonably solid job, especially since coming back into the team, it's clear he isn’t a natural deep-lying playmaker. He’s certainly capable of playing incisive passes - as seen against Lyon - but he doesn’t control the rhythm of a game like a true tempo-setter would. Bringing in that type of player would allow Ugarte to thrive further up the pitch in a more front-footed role, which I believe suits his profile far better.

The question is, who out there can come in an play such a role?
 
Man Utd 0:1 Wolves New
I didn't watch the game but by all accounts he was underwhelming today, going by Andy Mitten that is.
 
Bestie07 said:
I felt he was good today, was actually spraying the ball around a bit.
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Yeah I thought so too. More ambitious passing, snappy in the tackle and even some good progressive runs through midfield.

Only ever seems trusted for 60/70 minutes a game though, even on non European weeks.
 
Bournemouth 1:1 Man Utd New
Grabbed an assist (of sorts). He and Casemiro need to be at their best on Thursday I feel.
 
Thought he looked good when he came on. Amazing what a bit of legs can do. Casemiro and Mainoo just could keep up with them. The latter at least had the dribbling ability.
 
He is our best CM/CDM, not sure what people expect of him. A more controlling CAM and Mainoo can work wonders for a team with Ugarte in the middle of it.
 
Watching PSG, remembering he flopped there and we gave them their money back which they used to buy Joao Neves. This guy wouldnt play for any of top 8 clubs in europe and you have people here justifying his presence.
 
Yostoed said:
Watching PSG, remembering he flopped there and we gave them their money back which they used to buy Joao Neves. This guy wouldnt play for any of top 8 clubs in europe and you have people here justifying his presence.
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Saying he flopped seems unfair.

Just checking PSG's Reddit it seems their fans loved him but the consensus was just that they wanted a different profile of midfielder.

You may be right that the type of midfielder he is might not have an easy place in the very elite sides currently. I'm not sure how I feel about that but it's not outlandish. He didn't flop at PSG though and he is a good player at what he does.
 
Athletic Club 0:3 Man Utd New
He cannot, under any cost play in the final. Most talentless footballer I've ever seen at the club, and he's nowhere near good "defensively" as everyone claims
 
How the feck he got two assists today when he couldn't pass a ball is beyond me. Very odd performance.
 
Game looked too fast for him. He is great at winning the ball but not much ability on it. But somehow pulled off two great assists. He is a useful player to have, but he'll need improvement/replacing to reach the top level as a team.
 
Ezkay said:
He cannot, under any cost play in the final. Most talentless footballer I've ever seen at the club, and he's nowhere near good "defensively" as everyone claims
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100% agree. He should not be playing the final at all!

Should be Bruno in the middle with Casemiro and Mainoo playing ahead of them
 
For some reason he seemed to be the more advanced CM playing like an 8. That’s not his position at all.
 
Ollie Derbyshire said:
For some reason he seemed to be the more advanced CM playing like an 8. That’s not his position at all.
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Real Madrid used to do this with Casemiro when he was playing with Modric and Kroos, useless in possession so they’d leave him the most forward midfielder in possession. That’s Ugarte, but so much worse
 
The two assists dragged a 3 or 4 out of 10 display to a 6 or 7. Looked so nervous in the first half, constantly gave the ball away and yet played a big part in two of our goals.
 
His lack of ability on the ball completely fecks us when we’re getting pressed hard
 
Pleased he got the two assists but tonight showed why he can’t and won’t be a starter for us in the future. He’s way off it on the ball, and you simply can’t carry players in this day and age. When they had 11 men you could see he was the trigger for their press and it worked fantastically well for them. He simply can’t play facing his own goal, playing out from the back.
 
Ollie Derbyshire said:
For some reason he seemed to be the more advanced CM playing like an 8. That’s not his position at all.
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I said during the first half that I’d move him further up and bring Bruno back. Because a) he’s shite in the build up, and b) for me his best attribute is hunting the ball. Get him forward and try to force turnovers, but keep him away from the build up phase. He’s not good enough.
 
Eugenius said:
Watching PSG pop the ball around in midfield, then watching him today. You can see why he got sold.
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I think he's a good player. Definitely not technically good enough for Enrique, and I do wonder if Amorim was fine with him being sold to PSG. He's a 7/10 player so far IMV.
 
Dropped an absolute stinker of a first half, ended it with 2 assists, football is a funny game.
 
Lindelof, Ugarte and Dorgu were having a mini-game between themselves in the first 20+ mins to see who could be worse.

However, as it has been a few times this season, he's come in clutch with some pivotal moments in the game. Worrying for the long term but it is what it is.
 
Ezkay said:
He cannot, under any cost play in the final. Most talentless footballer I've ever seen at the club, and he's nowhere near good "defensively" as everyone claims
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We have no realistic opinions.
 
I see people putting him in their lineup for next season. Casemiro has been miles better than him since he has come back.
 
Think it'll be Bruno-Casemiro pairing in 2nd leg. Two assists but didn't like his performance that much other than that.
 
Bastian said:
I think he's a good player. Definitely not technically good enough for Enrique, and I do wonder if Amorim was fine with him being sold to PSG. He's a 7/10 player so far IMV.
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I think he's looking like one those players we quietly shuffle into squad player status. The sort of player you'd want to produce in your academy rather than pay £50m for. He's OK but you can look at Casemiro and see he's just got more quality than Ugarte in every department apart from having legs.
 
You play him where you play Fred; he’s a terrier that hunts high up the pitch then lays it off simply to far superior technicians. He can also then get away with more nibbling tactical fouls before the invariable yellow.

He’s a scary player to have sat deep. The game quickly overwhelms him and he cannot handle an intense press. He becomes a turnover machine under pressure and also fouls excessively to make up for his own errors.

We’ve bought him for so much money, yet he’s destined to be a sub, the moment we can fully upgrade the midfield. It’s a costly buy for what he is and what will eventually happen to him.
 
Fortitude said:
You play him where you play Fred; he’s a terrier that hunts high up the pitch then lays it off simply to far superior technicians. He can also then get away with more nibbling tactical fouls before the invariable yellow.

He’s a scary player to have sat deep. The game quickly overwhelms him and he cannot handle an intense press. He becomes a turnover machine under pressure and also fouls excessively to make up for his own errors.

We’ve bought him for so much money, yet he’s destined to be a sub, the moment we can fully upgrade the midfield. It’s a costly buy for what he is and what will eventually happen to him.
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How the feck do we keep doing this?
 
There is a reason PSG were happy to get rid of him, he is rubbish on the ball.

We need to stop signing centre midfielders with such limited passing abilities.
 
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