“What I like is playing, having the ball. But I would say that what characterizes me the most is that I always give everything. I am, like most Uruguayan players, a player who does not give up, an aggressive player in his game. I always try to give my all on the pitch.. Here is what Manuel Ugarte said when he arrived at Paris Saint-Germain on July 7. Transferred from Sporting CP for 60 million euros, the 22-year-old midfielder has since turned words into deeds. Lined up alongside Warren Zaire-Emery and Vitinha on Saturday night against FC Lorient (0-0), the Uruguayan international (8 caps) delivered a great performance.
Elected man of the match by the FM editorial team, the number 4 of the capital club quickly made people forget the absence of a certain Marco Verratti. In a completely different style, less twirling but just as effective, the native of Montevideo distinguished himself and thus reigned supreme for 90 minutes. Combative, impressive in the duel (8/15) and essential to recovering the ball (9 balls recovered), Ugarte really stood out in the Parisian midfield. Precise in his transmissions and inspired when playing the Lorient defense (3 successful dribbles out of the 3 attempted), the former Famalicão player will remain as one of the main satisfactions on an individual level.
A confusing physical impact!
“I think so it was a great meeting. We dominated the match with a team withdrawn in defense, it was difficult to score. We had to move the ball a little more. I am happy with the team’s work but disappointed with the result.”confided in particular the person concerned at the microphone of Canal + before evoking his first feelings. “I’m happy but on the other hand it’s not enough. As I said, the most important thing is to win. I felt very good during the game but we didn’t win so it’s a shame. So we will work more to win next time.. Omnipresent in midfield, Ugarte could also have liberated the Parc des Princes in the dying seconds of this match, but his powerful shot flirted, just a little, with the top corner of Mvogo (90 + 5th).
“Yes it would have been a dream for the ball to end up in the back of the net but I tried my luck, we’ll try again next time”, added, as such, the 22-year-old Uruguayan. Powerful, sometimes to the limit in his rough interventions, Ugarte brings, in any case, this physical dimension to PSG. Not insignificant qualities, especially in view of the very high intensity European matches that await the Ile-de-France club. Asked about the performance of the new Parisian recruit, Luis Enrique also seemed amazed by his foal. “He was magnificent, wonderful, with or without the ball. He recovered balls, pressed very high, intercepted balls. It was a 10/10”. If PSG only pocketed a small point against Les Merlus, there is no doubt that Manuel Ugarte has collected many more in the eyes of his coach and his supporters…
