- Three of Man United’s summer signings started in the 3-0 defeat to Liverpool
- Manuel Ugarte was the one they needed the most, even though he was in the stands
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Erik ten Hag had added £100million worth of new players to his squad, but after a painful defeat to Liverpool it seemed the man Manchester United really needed was the one sitting in the stands at Old Trafford.
Manuel Ugarte was carried onto the pitch to loud applause before kick-off and the new £50.5million Paris Saint-Germain midfielder was then forced to watch helplessly from the directors’ bench as Liverpool mercilessly ruined United’s display.
Ugarte was signed too late on transfer deadline day to be eligible for the match. Given he has not played for PSG this season while the move to United was being negotiated, it is unlikely Ten Hag would have started him anyway.
But the hard-hitting Uruguayan has been brought in to bolster United’s midfield and that is exactly what Ten Hag’s side needed on Sunday when they were overrun by the Liverpool trio of Ryan Gravenberch, Dominik Szoboszlai and Alexis Mac Allister.
Casemiro was caught at half-time and Kobbie Mainoo was confronted with the facts.
Erik ten Hag has added £100million worth of new players to his squad to take on rivals Liverpool
Manuel Ugarte was paraded across the field to loud applause and watched from the stands
Casemiro (pictured) was hooked at half-time and Kobbie Mainoo was confronted with reality during the match
United identified Ugarte as their No 1 midfield target early in the summer, so it begged the question as to why they waited so long to sign their man. Ten Hag answered that question by warning that the 23-year-old is no miracle worker.
“We have to build him into the team and that will take time. It’s not like Harry Potter, that’s what you have to recognise,” said the United manager.
‘If you look at Manuel Ugarte, he hasn’t played this season, not a single minute of play. We have to build up his condition and then I’m sure he’ll be an important player.’
Ten Hag was given his full debut ahead of Joshua Zirkzee – the £36.5million Bologna striker who came off the bench to score the winning goal against Fulham on the opening weekend – and £42.8million defender Matthijs de Ligt, who replaced Harry Maguire in the line-up. Noussair Mazraoui, signed from Bayern Munich for £17million alongside De Ligt, made his third successive start at right-back.
Although Ten Hag was pleased with Zirkzee’s performance, the Dutchman never really got into the game and missed two late chances from Marcus Rashford.
De Ligt started well but United’s defence collapsed as Liverpool ran almost haphazardly through midfield.
Erik ten Hag warned that the 23-year-old Ugarte is not a miracle worker and needs time to get used to it
Joshua Zirkzee (pictured) did not get into the game and missed two late chances from Marcus Rashford
Mazraoui was fortunate that Trent Alexander-Arnold’s early goal was ruled out for offside after Luis Diaz evaded him on the right. A defender known for his attacking qualities was then sent miles upfield as Diaz emerged unmarked to head Liverpool ahead.
It has become a dangerous pastime to rush to judgement on United’s new signings of the past decade. ‘It’s a graveyard for players who came to the club with great reputations and they haven’t done well,’ said former United defender Gary Neville on Saturday.
But after United’s run of bad luck in the transfer market last summer, this was a sobering reminder that there are no quick fixes.