Man Utd news: Manuel Ugarte’s bittersweet message after first goal as trio slammed as ‘pathetic’

Manchester United secured what could be a crucial point against Everton on Saturday after going 2-0 down at Goodison Park, with another game against Ipswich coming at Old Trafford in midweek

Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim will be breathing a sigh of relief after his team left Goodison Park with a point, having found themselves two goals down.

The Red Devils were staring at the prospect of a third straight defeat in the Premier League as goals from Beto and Abdoulaye Doucoure left the team in real trouble going into the half time break.

But United rallied in the second half as Bruno Fernandes netted a free kick before Manuel Ugarte superbly rifled into the net from distance after taking the ball down on his chest, securing a 2-2 draw.

Amorim will now be hoping to build on that result against Ipswich at home on Wednesday. Mirror Football has taken a look at the biggest Red Devils news and gossip ahead of the game against the Tractor Boys.

Shearer slams “pathetic” trio

United still have plenty of work despite earning a point in their last game at Goodison Park against an in-form Everton side.

The team were left exposed in the first half and didn’t even half a shot on target going into the interval.

Newcastle legend Alan Shearer took issue with United trio Bruno Fernandes, Rasmus Hojlund and Diogo Dalot, saying none of them pressed Everton enough.

Singling out Dalot, he said on Match of the Day: “Watch Man United, watch this, I mean this is pathetic. You’ve got players who are walking. There’s no point in going in ones and twos, look at the space Everton have got to play in. Look at Harrison, look at Garner,” Shearer told Match of the Day.

“Both wanting the ball, both wanting to receive the ball. And if they get it, Dalot is eight yards off. Why aren’t you one yard off and if they get it, putting a crunching tackle in? Then the run of Garner at will, at ease.”

He then took aim at Hojlund and Fernandes, adding: “To me it’s Confused.com. I’m not sure they know what they’re doing in there. Look at the effort or lack of it. Everton’s second goal is the worst one of the lot. Watch this from Bruno Fernandes, when Doucoure gets the ball. Seriously is that the best you can do?

“Take a touch, play in behind and Everton get the goal which they really deserve. So the difference between the two teams and for 72 minutes Man United were hopeless. I look at some of the players and they’re really struggling.”

Amorim makes brutal admission

Shearer wasn’t the only one critical of United as Amorim candidly admitted his team were too inconsistent at present.

The Portuguese boss also conceded he had no idea how to fix the issue that has seen them win three, lose two and draw one in the last six games in all competitions.

United could have lost the game towards the end had Everton’s stoppage time penalty not been overturned by VAR and the Red Devils still lie 15th in the Premier League.

“I don’t know what I need to do to bring more consistency,” Amorim said. “If I knew, I would change it,” he said after the Everton draw. “We have to continue to think in the next game, everything we do in the week we have to use it in the game.

“If we do that, we are near to winning games like we did in the second half. In this moment we need to focus on day by day. We need to survive this season, and then to think ahead. We have so many problems.

“Then when we go to the game and let the time pass, it’s really hard. I don’t want to just say the negative part, the second half was so much better in the belief. In the end we were near to winning this game.”

Ugarte’s bittersweet message

There was a positive moment for United star Ugarte as he was able to celebrate his first goal for the club since joining from PSG last summer.

The Uruguayan has had a mixed start to life at Old Trafford after being thrown head-first into a crisis at United, with the 23-year-old struggling to get into his groove considering how short on confidence his team-mates are.

Ugarte made his 14th start for United on Saturday and it saw him find the back of the net for the first since since his big move to Manchester.

He did superbly well as a rebounded free-kick was cleared only as far as him – before he cushioned the ball on his chest before thumping an effort into the corner.

It was a crucial goal for United as it sealed the equaliser to ensure the team came from two goals down to claim a vital point, but Ugarte didn’t allow himself to get carried away.

He barely celebrated as he quickly ran back to the centre circle to get the game underway again.

After the game, Ugarte couldn’t hide his disappointment about dropping points but admitted he was “proud” to score his first goal at the club.

“We wanted to bring the win home, but it wasn’t meant to be. Happy and proud of my first goal here. Let’s focus on the next one.”

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