Manchester United midfielder Manuel Ugarte put in another monstrous performance in the team’s victory over Arsenal.
Manuel Ugarte joined Manchester United from Paris Saint-Germain in the summer after a long pursuit, with the deal finalised on transfer deadline day.
After a slow start after joining United, Manuel Ugarte is really settling into life at Old Trafford.
Ugarte is becoming a fan favourite at the club through a series of committed performances in midfield, where he is flourishing in Ruben Amorim’s system.
He showed some real personality at The Emirates too, taking centre stage in a penalty box brawl in which he escaped unpunished.
Manuel Ugarte up for the fight
Manuel Ugarte sent an emphatic message after Manchester United’s win, repeating a quote he issued before he signed for the club.
Ugarte wrote: “When we have the ball, it’s a game and when we don’t, it’s a fight. Let’s keep it going always together.”
It was a message that summed up not only his approach, but how head coach Ruben Amorim wants his team to play right now.
Speaking to his YouTube channel, former Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand reacted to Ugarte’s comments, and praised the Uruguayan for backing it up.
He said: “Fans, they buy into that. I think that’s one part of his game that you can’t question, his fight, his desire.
“We heard about his ability to win the ball, and be combative when he plays. He’s showing that now.”
Reacting to Ugarte’s unpunished headbutt incident with Kai Havertz, Ferdinand said he liked to see it.
“Good. That’s passion. That’s what I like to see… within the rules of the game.”
Rio Ferdinand not getting carried away
Rio Ferdinand is self-aware enough to recognise that in the past he has spoken too early, and got over excited about Manchester United’s potential revival.
He says he is holding fire this time – but he does like what he has seen over the past couple of weeks.
Ferdinand said: “I ain’t going to get carried away like I have done in the past, we are talking about Man United going through on penalties.
“In the 90 minutes we drew the game, in the last game against Liverpool we drew, and before that we lost loads of games, I’m not saying we are the finished article and we are back.
“What I’m saying is there are things, and there are certain aspects of our game, that are giving me the ability to buy in.”
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