Manuel Ugarte and ex-Manchester United starlet praised by international boss despite loss

Uruguay National team coach Marco Bielsa has praised Manuel Ugarte and a former Manchester United defender despite their shock loss against Peru.

Manuel Ugarte‘s start at Manchester United has been far from ideal, with poor team performances making it difficult for him to settle in Manchester.

Since his arrival at Old Trafford, the 23-year-old has faced some criticism for his displays as he works to integrate into the squad. However, the overall negative performances from Erik ten Hag‘s side have not helped his cause.

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A key factor behind this is Ugarte’s lack of a proper pre-season. He didn’t train sufficiently with Paris St. Germain before his late August move to United on transfer deadline day, leaving him to play catch-up with his fitness.

International breaks often provide United players a much-needed reprieve from the club’s high-pressure environment, but Ugarte didn’t find much solace during this one. Uruguay suffered a surprising 1-0 defeat to Peru on Saturday.

Despite being praised by local media for his individual performance as a centre-back in a back three, Ugarte admitted after the game that the team didn’t play well.

However, former Leeds United manager Marco Bielsa, who now heads the Uruguay national side, hailed Ugarte and former United defender Guillermo Varela, who left the club in 2017 after joining the academy ranks four years prior.

“[The defence] was the best part of the team,” Bielsa said during his press conference after the game. “Varela played well, Ugarte had hierarchy, and Santi Bueno made no mistakes.

“In general terms, I thought it was the part that exceeded the demands of the match.”

Ugarte will likely next appear as Uruguay face Ecuador in the early hours of Wednesday morning before he flies back to Manchester.

United are set to line up against Brentford at Old Trafford, although it remains to be seen if Ugarte will play. He has to fly back from South America and readjust to England’s weather and time zone.

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