Thomas Tuchel Applauds Manchester United's Manuel Ugarte After England's Stalemate with Uruguay
England manager Thomas Tuchel has singled out Manchester United's Manuel Ugarte for praise following a 1-1 draw against Uruguay in an international friendly at Wembley Stadium. The match saw a makeshift Three Lions side labor against a tough opponent, with several fringe players failing to seize the opportunity to impress ahead of the upcoming World Cup.
Experimental Lineup and Key Absences
With established stars like Harry Kane, Bukayo Saka, and Declan Rice watching from the stands, Tuchel fielded an experimental lineup. James Garner and James Trafford made their debuts in a game that started brightly but quickly lost momentum. Harry Maguire, earning his first cap in 18 months, delivered a commanding and confident performance, while Dominic Solanke saw efforts blocked and saved.
The flow of the match was disrupted early when Joaquin Piquerez suffered an injury in a tangle with Noni Madueke, leading to England fans amusing themselves by launching paper planes onto the pitch. Despite comfortably dealing with Uruguay's threats, England offered little in attack, though Tuchel expressed satisfaction given the quality of the opposition.
Tuchel's Praise for Ugarte and Valverde
Tuchel appeared particularly impressed by Uruguay's central midfield pairing of Federico Valverde and Manchester United's Manuel Ugarte. Ugarte, who has struggled to assert himself at Old Trafford following a £42 million move from PSG 18 months ago, received notable acclaim from the England boss.
'I learned a lot, because it was a tough opponent and you just see it in the details,' Tuchel remarked. 'You learn a lot in the details, also the behaviour, and you see the level. If you play against Ugarte, if you play against Valverde in midfield, you see the level. You play against the winners and these defensive players, it’s a high level and then you instantly see, so we needed this kind of test.'
Injury Concerns and Refereeing Controversy
The match was marred by injuries, with Phil Foden limping off in the second half after a reckless tackle by Ronald Araujo, and Noni Madueke seen leaving the stadium in a knee brace following a first-half incident. Tuchel voiced anger over both challenges, criticizing referee Sven Jablonski for having a 'bad day at the office.'
This included awarding Uruguay a late penalty after a review of a challenge by Ben White on Federico Vinas. 'I think it’s a very soft penalty,' Tuchel stated. 'Of course there is contact, but it’s so obvious what the striker is trying to do. Maybe Ben is also a bit greedy in this moment, but to overturn a decision when the referee clearly, clearly made the signal with both hands that he saw it and it was not enough for him.'
He further questioned the consistency of VAR, noting that tackles on Foden and Madueke were not checked, while the penalty incident was reviewed. 'I heard that our goal was a tough block before our goal. I haven’t seen it, so, yeah, overall, that’s what it is,' Tuchel added, reflecting on the contentious decisions.
Looking Ahead
With the squad set to be rejigged as more familiar faces return for Tuesday's friendly against Japan, Tuchel's experimental approach provided valuable insights. The praise for Ugarte highlights the midfielder's potential despite his struggles at Manchester United, offering a glimmer of hope for his future at the club.
As England prepares for the World Cup, Tuchel's focus on details and high-level tests underscores his strategic mindset, aiming to build a competitive squad capable of challenging on the global stage.
