Last night, Manchester United lost to Leeds United at Old Trafford, missing the chance to secure a Champions League spot for next season.
A victory would have given them a three-point lead over Aston Villa, but the 2-1 defeat adds pressure for their upcoming matches.
An important absence was Kobbie Mainoo, who has recently become a regular starter under Michael Carrick.
Before the match, Carrick addressed Mainoo’s absence, providing some reassurance to fans about the remainder of the season.
According to Manchester United’s official website, Carrick mentioned to Sky Sports: “Kobbie just had a small issue in training over the last day or so.”
He added: “It’s not serious but enough to keep him out tonight. It wasn’t worth the risk, so we hope it’s minor and won’t take long.”
“Manu comes in tonight. He performed well for us in the last game against Bournemouth and played well for Uruguay, so he’s ready to go.”
“He’s been excellent in training and has contributed a lot, even if it hasn’t been obvious due to Kobbie and Casemiro playing a lot.”
“So, tonight is a big chance for him to prove himself, and we’ll manage without Kobbie.”
Unfortunately, Ugarte did not seize his opportunity to demonstrate his worth to the team, adding to United’s recent difficulties.
On a positive note, Carrick announced that talks for a new contract for Kobbie Mainoo are progressing, which had previously stalled due to Ruben Amorim.
Last night’s match highlighted Mainoo’s importance to the team, especially with Casemiro expected to leave in the summer and Ugarte likely to be sold. Retaining the England international is vital for United’s future.