The storied rivalry between Manchester United and Arsenal is set to ignite once more. This Sunday, 9 March 9, Old Trafford will be the stage for a potentially decisive encounter.
With Arsenal desperate to close the gap on league leaders Liverpool, and Manchester United battling to salvage their season from a precarious 14th position, expect a fiercely contested match.
Adding to the anticipation, Showmax recently sat down with United’s Uruguayan midfield maestro, Manuel Ugarte, for an interview on his career and life in Manchester.
Credit: Showmax Premier League and Premier League productions
How would you describe your childhood in Montevideo?
It was beautiful. I had great times. I made many friends, and it was also very competitive, because football in Uruguay is very competitive, and that’s also why Uruguay’s a country that’s won so much in football.
Did you always like football?
Yes, always. I started playing football at a very young age, so I never had to choose between two things. Football always won, and I obviously don’t regret it.
Did it start with playing in the streets with your brother?
Yes, I started in the streets with my brother. He’s a year older than me, so we always shared many things, and football was one of those things. He’s a great player too.
Do you have a first memory about football? A match, a player?
I have a memory, yes, of my first training sessions. I don’t remember how old I was, but it was at City Park, which is a local team, where I started playing. I clearly remember the first training sessions.
And what did you learn in those years?
Well, I always say the same thing: the most important thing is to enjoy yourself, and if you’re convinced that you want to play football, give it your all. If you want to do something, give it 100%. Dedicate as much time as you can to football, but always enjoy yourself.
How important was your father in raising you as a person and as a player?
He’s incredible. He still helps me with everything to this day. He helps my brother and me with everything. He’s had a big role in my career so far, because I had everything I needed. He always gave me everything, he was there for me, coming with me and giving me advice. I’m very thankful for that, because I’m very lucky in that sense, and he made my journey much easier.
Man United midfielder Manuel Ugarte. Credit: Showmax Premier League.
Is there any piece of advice from your father, or your brother, that you keep in mind?
Yes, I talk very often with my father, and he always says the same thing, that sometimes I should take a step back and see how my life has changed, how I’ve learned and experienced different things, in the world of football and outside of it, and that makes you enjoy it more.
And then you went to Fénix, a slightly bigger club in Montevideo. How did you arrive at Fénix?
I arrived through friends I made in football, because we were playing with friends and we didn’t know where to go. So, we picked a team and we all went there, and that’s where my youth career started in Uruguay as a kid, and they were some incredible years. My time at Fénix was beautiful, I learned a lot, and I really enjoyed it.
As you said, everything happened fast for you. At Fénix, you moved up to the first team at 15 years of age. Fifteen years old, how?
It’s incredible. Over there, you have different age divisions: seventh, sixth, fifth, fourth. I played the first year in the youth teams, and in the middle of my second year, around August, I was moved up to the first team. I could only train once a week, because I had problems with my school, and when I turned 16, I started training every day. But yes, my debut was at 15 years of age, and it was something truly incredible.
Do you remember your professional debut?
Yes, I remember it vividly. I remember that I played seven or eight minutes, and it felt like it was 90 minutes, because I had to run a lot, but I enjoyed it, I enjoyed it. I also feel like my emotions got the better of me, so I obviously felt more tired than I was.
And were you nervous?
At the beginning, I was on the bench, and I wasn’t nervous. In the second half when we started to warm up, all of my teammates were saying, “this is your debut, this is your debut. ” That’s when I got nervous and I really felt it. Imagine my father! He was out there watching the game. If I was nervous, he was 10 times more nervous. It was a great moment, which I’ll obviously never forget.
And you played as a striker for a time. When did you switch to midfield?
I started off as a striker. I’ve always played further forward, and I think the change happened in an U-20 team, with Uruguay, under Fabián Coito. And I think he was one of the first ones to move me further back. I started learning about it. At the beginning, I didn’t like it, then I began to learn, and started to like it, and now I’m a defensive midfielder.
