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Erik ten Hag already admitted defeat with one Man Utd Summer signing

Of the five players Erik ten Hag brought to Manchester United this summer, only one started in Sunday’s match against Aston Villa—Leny Yoro, who is still nursing an injury.

Yoro made his appearance in the second half of the game but has yet to score in nine matches. Manuel Ugarte, a significant new addition for £42 million on transfer deadline day, has also not met expectations.

Initial hopes that Ugarte could address the challenges linked to Casemiro have faded after the last three games. Following a lackluster display in a 3-0 loss to Tottenham, the 23-year-old was left out of the squad for the next two matches.

What seemed to be a rest for the Europa League match against Porto was disproven when Ten Hag chose to keep him on the bench again on Sunday. Instead, Christian Eriksen teamed up with Kobbie Mainoo in midfield, while Casemiro, whom Ugarte was supposed to replace, was brought on in the second half. This suggests Ten Hag might have given up on Ugarte’s potential role.

However, it’s still early, and Ugarte has a chance to turn things around. He has only played four Premier League matches, with his first minutes coming during Uruguay’s last international break.

Before joining Manchester United, he hadn’t featured for Paris Saint-Germain, and he started his league appearances as a substitute to regain fitness. Starting against Tottenham but then being benched feels like a setback, especially since he isn’t injured.

His lack of involvement in late-game substitutions was disappointing, particularly when United needed midfield reinforcement against Porto and could have used two defensive midfielders against Villa to secure a vital point.

Ugarte has been called up to join Marcelo Bielsa’s Uruguay squad for upcoming World Cup qualifiers, which should provide him with crucial playing time. United’s next match at home against Brentford presents an ideal chance for him to find his rhythm. If he remains sidelined or gets minimal playtime, Ten Hag might face criticism for signing him.

Fans are also looking for better performances from Matthijs De Ligt, who only played against Villa due to Harry Maguire’s injury, after a challenging start. Noussair Mazraoui was the only new signing to start that game, likely due to a full-back crisis.

Diogo Dalot continues to play left-back with Shaw and Malacia injured, but he is expected to switch back to right-back when one returns. Joshua Zirkzee was expected to provide backup once Rasmus Hojlund is fit.

Overall, it seems Manchester United’s summer signings under Erik ten Hag are struggling to make a meaningful impact. Yoro, the only summer recruit to start against Aston Villa, has yet to score, while Ugarte’s integration has hit a snag. Initially seen as a solution for midfield issues, Ugarte’s form has declined after a disappointing start against Tottenham.

His absence in key moments against Porto and Villa raises questions about his role, especially with no injury concerns. His upcoming international duty with Uruguay could help him regain his form, and the match against Brentford offers a chance for redemption. If he remains overlooked, it may prompt questions about Ten Hag’s decision to bring him in.

Meanwhile, Matthijs De Ligt, who played against Villa due to Maguire’s injury, needs to improve after a slow start. Diogo Dalot is temporarily filling in at left-back, but will return to right-back when one of the injured players is fit. Joshua Zirkzee, signed as a backup striker, has yet to see significant playing time but may have more opportunities once Hojlund is fully fit.

The challenges of integrating these new signings add to Ten Hag’s difficulties, particularly with the team’s recent performances falling short.

 

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