One Manchester United player has shown he cannot start the Europa League final against Tottenham Hotspur after a “rubbish” 20-minute cameo against Chelsea.
Manchester United suffered their 18th Premier League defeat of the season on Friday evening, as Marc Cucurella’s second-half header earned Chelsea a 1-0 win at Stamford Bridge.
Looking to make a statement ahead of next Wednesday’s Europa League final against Tottenham, several United players were eager to impress. The visitors started brightly, with Harry Maguire seeing an early goal chalked off for offside.
Chances were few and far between in a cagey first half, but United came out stronger after the break, creating a series of opportunities. However, it was Chelsea who made the breakthrough 20 minutes from time, as Cucurella nodded home a brilliant Reece James cross.
Despite late pressure from United, Chelsea held firm to secure all three points and climb back into the Premier League’s top five, leaving Rúben Amorim’s side to focus on their European showdown next week.
Ugarte’s cameo against Chelsea was very poor
With 20 minutes left in the tie, Amorim chose to substitute some of his key players, with Casemiro and Mason Mount coming off and replaced by Manuel Ugarte and Alejandro Garnacho.
While Ugarte came on to add energy into midfield and save Casemiro from further minutes ahead of the final, his performance was, as one fan put it, “rubbish” as United conceded within moments of the Uruguayan international entering the field.
Ugarte managed to find himself booked for the 11th time in the Premier League this season despite playing just 20 minutes, and the difference in United’s performance levels took a significant dive once he entered the field.
Although his statistics make for decent reading, with the player completing all ten attempted passes, having 15 touches, and succeeding in both of his tackles, his impact on the tie was not one that will fill United fans with confidence.
Amorim knows his best midfield duo against Tottenham
While Bruno Fernandes has started as part of the front three fairly often of late, the club captain started alongside Casemiro in the middle of the park.
Considering his display and what Ugarte produced after replacing Casemiro, Amorim must know that the Uruguayan cannot play the final, and that his best option is to start Casemiro alongside Fernandes next Wednesday.
While getting Fernandes closer to the goal helps United’s finishing abilities, having him deeper allows the club to control the game.
Against Tottenham, with Casemiro acting as an anchor and Fernandes alongside him to dictate play, keep possession, and feed the front line as well as the two wing-backs, it is the most effective way Amorim can help his side try to control the Europa League final.
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