One Manchester United player has seen an unfortunate record worsen following the club’s 2–1 defeat to Aston Villa at Villa Park, a result that compounded both frustration and concern among supporters.
Aston Villa forward Morgan Rogers proved decisive, scoring twice in remarkably similar fashion on either side of half-time.
On both occasions, he cut inside onto his right foot and guided the ball into the bottom-right corner, leaving United’s defence exposed and goalkeeper Senne Lammens with little chance.
Manchester United briefly restored parity just before the interval when Matheus Cunha capitalised on a mistake from Matty Cash to make it 1–1, offering hope that was ultimately short-lived.
Beyond the disappointment of the defeat itself, Ruben Amorim’s side were dealt a significant setback when captain Bruno Fernandes was forced off with what appeared to be a hamstring injury.
The midfielder’s early exit not only disrupted United’s rhythm but also raised fears about his availability for upcoming fixtures during a demanding period of the season.
Tactical reshuffles followed at half-time, with Lisandro Martínez introduced and initially deployed in midfield alongside Manuel Ugarte. As the match progressed, Martínez eventually dropped back into central defence.
Ugarte, meanwhile, endured another difficult outing and was substituted in the 75th minute after failing to make a meaningful impact. He was replaced by academy product Jack Fletcher, who made his senior debut for the club.
The result has drawn attention to a worrying statistic linked to Ugarte. Manchester United have now gone seven consecutive Premier League matches without a victory when the Uruguayan has started.
That run stretches back to April, beginning with a heavy 4–1 loss to Newcastle United.
The last time United claimed a league win with Ugarte in the starting XI was a comfortable 3–0 victory over Leicester City in March.
Notably, Leicester were in the midst of a dreadful run at the time, eventually enduring 11 league games without a win and eight matches without scoring before being relegated.
Ugarte was not the only figure to come under scrutiny from fans. Young defender Leny Yoro also faced criticism for his role in both of Rogers’ goals.
For the opener, Yoro failed to close down the winger near the byline, allowing him the space to cut inside onto his favoured foot and score.
A similar lapse followed for the second goal, once again giving Rogers too much time and freedom in a dangerous area.
Supporter reaction was swift and unforgiving. One fan wrote bluntly that Ugarte “shouldn’t play another single minute for United.” Another echoed the sentiment, stating they did not want to see him included again.
Several supporters focused on Yoro, pointing out that both goals stemmed from the defender allowing Rogers to operate comfortably on his stronger side. Comments described his defending as “embarrassing” and criticised his slow reactions.
Others took a longer-term view, suggesting Ugarte should not be part of United’s future plans, while some questioned why Kobbie Mainoo — sidelined against Villa with a minor injury — appeared to be behind Ugarte in the pecking order.
Overall, the reaction highlighted growing frustration within the fanbase, with concerns mounting over individual performances and the broader direction of the team following another disappointing league result.
