Manchester United is preparing to give Manuel Ugarte his debut as they face Southampton on Saturday. This comes after a heavy 3-0 home defeat to Liverpool, with the team seeking to end a series of losses that has marred the beginning of their season. Under increasing pressure, Erik ten Hag is expected to make several changes to the lineup.
United will travel south to take on a struggling Southampton side that has yet to secure any points in their initial three games. Joshua Zirkzee is anticipated to start, with Amad likely to join the attacking setup. Given United’s recent lackluster attacking performances, Ten Hag is reconsidering his forward strategy.
Midfielder Casemiro, who had a poor showing against Liverpool, may be dropped from the starting XI due to his role in conceding two of the three goals. Manuel Ugarte, recently transferred from PSG, is expected to fill his spot in midfield. Ten Hag, addressing the pressure on himself and his team, remarked, “It doesn’t affect me. I understand the process we’re in, what we need to do, and the direction we’re heading. As I’ve said before, we are still in a period of transition. We have a lot of young players that need to be integrated into the squad.”
He also noted that it’s premature to draw conclusions, adding, “We’ll see where we stand by May next year. Right now, it’s early, and the focus is on winning trophies and finishing as high as possible in the league. We’re aiming to win every game, and come May, we’ll assess where we are and make judgments accordingly.”
As Manchester United looks to turn their season around, the match against Southampton is seen as a pivotal opportunity for Ten Hag to address recent struggles and reinvigorate the squad.
