Manchester United’s flailing Premier League campaign received an unexpected shot in the arm with an encouraging 2-2 draw at Anfield.
When nobody gave Man Utd a chance, the players pulled out a positive performance which, while making the fans scratch their heads, at least provided hope.
Man Utd fans came into the game just wanting a team to be proud of but probably left frustrated as to why they can’t do this every week.
However, one player who has been doing it every week was world-class against Liverpool too, prompting Paul Scholes to crown him as United’s newest untouchable under Ruben Amorim after Amad.
Paul Scholes’ new Man Utd untouchable
Watching United right now, it is clear that a picture of a first XI is emerging under Amorim, with the likes of Bruno Fernandes, Amad, Andre Onana, and Noussair Mazraoui being the most important players.
In midfield Kobbie Mainoo and Manuel Ugarte seem to have established themselves as the first-choice pairing but that is more down to paucity of options.
However, Scholes said that after the Liverpool game, Manuel Ugarte should count himself as the first name on the teamsheet at Old Trafford.
He said Ugarte’s ball-playing ability has ‘surprised’ him and he should now be considered an untouchable at United, no asterisk of any lack of options involved.
Scholes said: “It has to be [Ugarte untouchable]. Mainoo is the best one alongside him once he’s fit. Ugarte is quality on the ball, he’s surprised me a little bit and he’s done better than I thought he would do when I watched him at PSG.
“He’s really grown in confidence. He helped defensively as well as in the attack, and played with composure. At this point, the United midfield has to be him plus another.”
Manuel Ugarte symbolises the best of Ruben Amorim
If there was a player in the current Man Utd squad who is an embodiment of why Ruben Amorim should be trusted, it’s Manuel Ugarte.
Ugarte was the only player at the club who Amorim has worked with previously and the rise in his levels since the new manager’s arrival proves Amorim will have United humming with time.
The Uruguayan seems perfectly in tune with what Amorim wants from his players and has ascended to untouchable status by performing that task on the pitch.
The thought of Amorim having the full squad dancing to his tunes is an encouraging one because of how successfully and quickly Ugarte has turned it around at Old Trafford.
He symbolises the best of Ruben Amorim, and vice versa as well. Impressing the notoriously difficult-to-impress Paul Scholes is a feather in his cap.
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