Before Manchester United’s 3-0 loss to Liverpool, fans were introduced to their new £50 million signing, Manuel Ugarte, who received a warm welcome at Old Trafford. The Uruguayan midfielder, signed from Paris Saint-Germain, is expected to replace Casemiro in the lineup when United take on Southampton after the international break.
During the first half against Liverpool, Casemiro struggled significantly, giving away possession cheaply and contributing to two of Liverpool’s goals. His poor performance made it clear that United should have moved on from the 32-year-old during the summer transfer window. After watching him struggle, Erik ten Hag decided to sub him off at halftime, bringing on 20-year-old Toby Collyer instead.
The delay in Ugarte’s transfer, which went down to the deadline day, meant he wasn’t registered in time to play against Liverpool. Additionally, with his last action being in the Copa America in July, he wouldn’t have been match-ready anyway. However, last season’s decline in Casemiro’s form, which made his impressive first season at United seem like a distant memory, highlighted the need for a change in midfield. Despite this, Casemiro stayed, partly due to Scott McTominay’s departure to Napoli for £25.7 million, which helped United meet the Premier League’s financial regulations.
After Casemiro’s disastrous display, it seems certain that Ugarte will start alongside Kobbie Mainoo in midfield for United’s next match against Southampton on September 14, barring any injuries.
While Casemiro was the standout underperformer, he wasn’t the only one to fall short of expectations. Marcus Rashford remained goalless since March 17 and was largely invisible, while summer signing Matthijs De Ligt, who started strong, eventually faltered and was substituted.
With two losses in three games, Erik ten Hag is already under significant pressure, having narrowly kept his job over the summer. If performances like this continue, his position could be in serious jeopardy.
