Although the anguish of an international break deprived Manchester United of an opportunity to atone for a humbling defeat against Liverpool, an overnight Player of the Match performance from Manuel Ugarte has done much to raise Old Trafford’s spirits.
The Uruguay man starred during his side’s goalless draw in a World Cup qualifier with Paraguay at the Centenario Stadium, providing a sample of what’s to come.
Having sealed his ‘dream move’ to Manchester at the tail end of the Summer transfer window, the timing of his registration prevented a possible debut against the Merseysiders.
For many, it was sorely missed, with Brazilian veteran Casemiro enduring a day to forget in the North West.
However, with seven days to contemplate the best course for redemption against Southampton, Erik ten Hag now has plenty of food for thought for the base of his midfield.
The numbers behind a memorable display
A defensive midfielder by trade, Ugarte’s role is to supply balance to the engine room while shielding his backline, preventing transitions and offloading the ball to his creative teammates.
His arsenal was on display overnight, with five tackles won, three clearances and one interception.
Additionally, he was impressive during his battles with a 75% success rate, winning three of his four aerial duels and nine of his twelve ground duels.
Paraguay attempted to press high and force errors in their attacking third. However, United’s new midfielder was up to the challenge, completing 50% of his attempted dribbles (1/2) and drawing three separate fouls to alleviate pressure.
But the nature of his all-round display didn’t stop there, as he contributed to distribution and various attacking transitions.
Providing a regular outlet for his teammates, the defensive maestro received possession 85 times during his 79-minute spell.
He completed 52 passes from 60 attempted (87%), with eight successful long-balls from 12 and also chipped in with one key pass for his efforts.
The 23-year-old arrived in Manchester on Deadline day, following an intense round of negotiations with Paris Saint-Germain.
Sitting in attendance against Liverpool, he witnessed a positive opening 25 minutes unravel as Casemiro departed for debutant Toby Collyer at the break.
Ten Hag requires a reaction from his side when they visit St. Mary’s on Saturday, September 14, for a 12:30 instalment of the Premier League.
Although the Uruguayan has not had ample time to integrate into his new surroundings, the allure of his composure, youth and determination may be tested against the Saints.
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