Manchester United settled on a 2-2 draw away to Tottenham Hotspur in a thriller in the English capital, but Ruben Amorim will rue a decision that cost his side all three points.
Matthijs de Ligt headed home a last-gasp 90+6th-minute equaliser to spare Amorim's blushes as the visitors looked set to suffer defeat to Spurs. They had taken the lead in the 32nd minute through Bryan Mbeumo, but the hosts turned things around through Mathys Tel's 84th-minute strike and Richarlison's clever header in the 90+1st minute.
United were in control for the most part and were just 12 minutes away from a vital victory against Thomas Frank's North Londoners. But the Red Devils were a completely different side after the 72nd minute and that was down to Amorim.
Man Utd's Standards Drop After Amorim's Ugarte Sub
Amorim turned to his bench at that stage of the game and brought on Manuel Ugarte for Casemiro, a decision that had many scratching their heads. The Brazilian, who has been a standout performer for United this season, was the glue and a key reason his side looked to be heading towards a win and a clean sheet.
Casemiro put in a dominant performance in the middle of the park, winning five of nine ground duels and even managed to prevent the pacey Micky van de Ven from surging towards Senne Lammens' goal. But at 33, he is no longer seeing out the full 90 minutes, which makes sense given the work he puts in.
GIVEMESPORT Key Statistic: Manchester United have conceded just five goals with Casemiro on the pitch this season.
The problem is that his replacement, Ugarte, has stuttered at Old Trafford and doesn't possess Casemiro's defensive solidity. That was on display today in North London as Amorim's men faltered and conceded two after the Uruguayan entered the fray.
The 24-year-old is a liability who his manager should know can't be relied on by now, as the team collapses once he is tasked with trying to keep the momentum going. He was partly to blame for both of Spurs' goals, and the capitulation when the substitution is made is becoming a recurring theme.
Wilson Odobert too easily beat Ugarte in the build-up to Tel's goal, and he then kept Richarlison on side for his header. One has to wonder how long Amorim persists with the former Paris Saint-Germain man who has come nowhere close to living up to his £42.2m price tag.
Man Utd Fans 'Fully Done' With Ugarte
Ugarte is ahead of Kobbie Mainoo, who was absent due to injury, in Amorim's pecking order, and that is, for many fans, mind-boggling. It's why many are still ruing the decision not to sign a new holding midfielder in the summer despite the acceptance that not spending over £100m on Brighton & Hove Albion's Carlos Baleba was the right call.
The Uruguay international hasn't got going at United and continues to feel the wrath of supporters who have run out of patience. Many on X pointed out how much of a downgrade he is on Casemiro and that Mainoo should be deputising for the Brazilian.
One fan channel wrote:
"What exactly does Ugarte do for us? He shouldn't even be coming on as a sub when Mainoo is fit, I don't even want to hear that "Mainoo isn't a DM" argument. I'm fully done with Ugarte."
A supporter gave a grim verdict by questioning Amorim:
"Serious conversation needs to be had about Amorim and his f**king substitutions. Shocking week after week. UGARTE is comfortably and I mean COMFORTABLY the worst player to ever play for Manchester United."
Another fan thinks Ugarte should be put up for sale:
"On a serious note Ugarte has absolutely nothing to offer Manchester United, even as a squad player. Nowhere near good enough to contribute currently, let alone for the level United want to get to. You just need sell as quickly as you can, and take the financial hit."
One supporter has also had enough of Amorim's former Sporting CP man but is willing to give Benjamin Sesko time:
"No one deserved to win that tbh. I just never wanna see Ugarte again personally. Sesko, we’ll talk in the car."
Ugarte arrived at United in August 2024, with fans ironically celebrating his deadline day acquisition from PSG. But they have watched the Parisians swoop for the incredible Joao Neves, who was linked with the club that summer, as his replacement, and he's taken Luis Enrique's side to the next level.
Amorim wasn't in charge when the midfielder joined the Reds as the transfer occurred in the latter stages of Erik ten Hag's reign. But the Dutchman seemed hesitant to play him during this period, which perhaps highlights the lack of trust in him.