BREAKING NEWS: We will forever regret sacking Michael Carrick, he’s not our problem”: Man United legend Paul scholes has clearly explained the problem the club is currently facing and it’s not Michael Carrick
Paul e has explained what Man United need to change now and warned them against sacking Michael Carrick
Manchester United’s hopes of qualifying for the Champions League looked oh-so certain in the weeks after Michael Carrick’s appointment, but recent results have proved a hitch in the resurgence.
On Monday evening, Leeds United finally ended their Old Trafford hoodoo, and though United still hold third place in the Premier League, they are encroached by the likes of Aston Villa and Liverpool.
The Whites secured their first win at their historic rivals’ home in 45 years, and though the hosts were left aggrieved after a more-than-questionable decision to send Lisandro Martinez off for a hair pull on Dominic Calvert-Lewin, the truth is that Carrick’s side were not incisive or intense enough before the break, with 11 players meeting 11.
Man United following defeat to Leeds
At the heart of it was Manuel Ugarte, who will surely be sold this summer even with Casemiro, who scored a second-half consolation, draping the curtain on his Premier League career.
What went wrong for Manuel Ugarte against Leeds
After the defeat, Manchester United legend Roy Keane spoke of the characteristics he admires in a centre-midfielder, and sadly, Ugarte only brings a small portion of that skillset.
A strong, combative tackler, Ugarte lacks quality, composure and technicality on the ball, and this was painfully apparent against Leeds, the Uruguayan eliciting voluble groans from the crowd as he misplaced passes and failed to close down opponents.
An inability to marry the various elements together is symptomatic of the wider problems at the Theatre of Dreams – problems that INEOS are desperately trying to fix.
Manuel Ugarte for Manchester United
While the goalscoring Casemiro has likely played his last Roses derby, Ugarte needs to leave too. The midfield rebuild will be more demanding, but it is the only way that the Red Devils will finally break away from their plight and return to the top of English and European football.
Only once has Ugarte won a Premier League match that he has started this season, and that surely tells the tale of the tape.
Rate Manchester United’s players vs Leeds
How did they fare?
However, he’s not the only one who flattered to deceive, with another of Carrick’s starters surely returning to the bench and staying there for the remainder of the campaign, as
Man United star must not start again after Leeds defeat
While the Manchester United 11 all failed to showcase their best quality, Noussair Mazraoui was one of the worst of the bunch, joining Ugarte in needing to return to the sidelines as Carrick crafts a top-four finish.
noussair-mazraoui-united
Diogo Dalot has hardly been on Bruno Fernandes level at the top of the Premier League form charts this season, but the Portuguese does at least have a more balanced, two-sided approach to his game as a full-back, and the absence of any attacking threat from Mazraoui showcased why he should be starting behind Amad Diallo.
As content creator Dev Bajwa said after the game, “That’s the worst I’ve seen from Noussair Mazraoui in a very long time”, going on to remark that it was “because he doesn’t look physically or mentally ready for this battle whatsoever.”
The statistics tell the story. The Morocco international did not even attempt a dribble, also failing to create a chance or whip in a cross for Benjamin Sesko in the middle.
Noussair Mazraoui vs Leeds
Match Stats
#
Minutes played
70′
Goals + Assists
0 + 0
Touches
49
Shots (on target)
1 (0)
Accurate passes
25/31 (81%)
Chances created
0
Crosses
0/0
Succ. dribbles
0/0
Ball recoveries
2
Tackles + interceptions
4/8
Clearances
3
Duels won
6/9
The Old Trafford side were sadly silenced by a more incisive Leeds side, but Mazraoui did not help matters, and when grasping the importance of returning to form and securing a ticket into Europe’s elite competition, it’s clear that a change must be made, with Amad dangerous throughout the game but perhaps lacking some support from behind.
By selling the likes of Mazraoui and Ugarte (though especially the latter), United will only go from strength to strength, utilising their recent improvements in the transfer market to inch closer toward a major title.
Man United hardly came flying out of the blocks, instead reduced to something akin to relegation candidates against Leeds, who have put some breathing room between Elland Road and the bottom three.
Ugarte was not the only one at fault, but he is anything but the solution, and he cannot start again in the race for Champions League football.
