Manuel Ugarte: Ruben Amorim reprimanded Man United midfielder | OneFootball

Many managers have fallen to player power at Manchester United, but Ruben Amorim is standing strong on that front.

Amorim’s tactical philosophy is yet to show it can deliver consistent results in the Premier League. However, the charismatic Portuguese has received widespread plaudits for his man-management.

Throughout his first 12 months in charge at Old Trafford, he has had the full backing of the club’s hierarchy in his attempts to reset the culture at the club.

Amorim pushed Rashford and Garnacho out of Man United

Early in his tenure, Amorim dropped Marcus Rashford from the matchday squad to face Manchester City in December after being left unimpressed with his work ethic. Around a month later, the high-profile academy graduate was loaned out to Aston Villa. 

Following United’s Europa League final loss to Tottenham Hotspur, Alejandro Garnacho publicly raised question marks over the head coach’s team selection. 

During the end-of-season meeting at Carrington, Amorim told Garnacho to find a new club in front of his teammates. The Argentina international was eventually sold to Chelsea.

United head coach slammed Ugarte

According to The Athletic, the ex-Sporting CP boss reprimanded Manuel Ugarte as well in the same gathering. The Uruguayan was an unused substitute in Bilbao.

Ugarte played under Amorim at Sporting between 2021 and 2023. However, the midfielder was not given special treatment during the meeting.

The report states: “Several players were on the receiving end, too, but Amorim had particularly pointed feedback for Ugarte, who he felt had let his work rate slide from their time together at Sporting. Amorim believed Ugarte had gotten comfortable and said he did not recognise him as the same player from their first stint together.”

This gesture, in particular, cause a “ripple of reaction” at Carrington, as it showed players that Amorim was “hard, but broadly fair, when it came to assessing application.”

Having said that, Amorim’s criticism has had little impact, as far as Ugarte’s form is concerned.

The ex-PSG man has slipped down the pecking order this season. He last started a game in September against Brentford.

Most recently, Ugarte made a disastrous cameo appearance in north London. After replacing Casemiro for the final 20 minutes, the 24-year-old was at fault for both of Spurs’ goals.

Featured image Michael Regan via Getty Images

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