Deeney Highlights Ugarte and Casemiro’s Midfield Partnership as Key Manchester United Improvement

On Sunday’s broadcast of Match of the Day 2, former Watford striker Troy Deeney identified the central midfield displays of Manuel Ugarte and Casemiro as a significantly improved aspect under Manchester United’s interim manager, Ruud van Nistelrooy, in recent matches. Deeney stated that this improvement stemmed from “a small tactical tweak of just not allowing the game to be so expansive.” He elaborated on their synergy, noting, “They were looking after each other and were right in the middle of the pitch. They were never too far away from each other so if one of them made a mistake, the second one is there to help him out. They worked as a partnership.” He contrasted their current play with previous weeks, observing that “In weeks gone past they were 30-40m away from one another. Now they’re playing little passes with each other and controlling things.” Deeney concluded by emphasizing their value, stating, “That’s what Casemiro and Ugarte bring to your team. There’s a reason they were at the clubs they were at before.”