Manuel Ugarte believes Manchester United are finally finding some consistency in what has been a turbulent season for the club.
On Sunday, United made it four games unbeaten with a 3-0 victory at struggling Leicester City thanks to goals from Rasmus Hojlund, Alejandro Garnacho and Bruno Fernandes.
The three points lifted Ruben Amorim's side to 13th in the Premier League table, and came hot on the heels of a 4-1 Europa League win over Spanish side Real Sociedad that secured a 5-2 aggregate victory and a quarter-final clash with Lyon.
Speaking to The National after the match at King Power Stadium, midfielder Ugarte feels the team is now on the right path.
“I think we're more solid, more consistent, but the important thing is that we are winning again, that we maintain consistency in the victories, and we're slowly achieving that," said the Uruguayan.
"Obviously it takes work, but yes, I think we're more solid when it comes to defending, and that's important.
"We go to the international break with a 3-0 win, we didn't concede any goals. We dominated a large part of the game, and we were decisive in front of the goal, and that's important”.
Despite a campaign that has seen manager Erik ten Hag sacked and his replacement Amorim struggle to lift the gloom hanging over Old Trafford, Ugarte insists the mood in the United dressing room is "very good".
"The training is very good," said the summer signing from Paris Saint-Germain. "Very intense. We always try to match the intensity of the game, and that's important, because then it's easier for us to have intensity in the game.
"And well, I think that takes time, too. It takes time to know the dynamics, but we're happy.”
Ugarte, who joined United in a £42 million deal that could potentially rise to more than £50m, has now established himself as a regular starter after a slow beginning to his first season in England.
And the 23-year-old is happy with how his form - and the team's - is progressing.
“I'm playing, I feel good," he added. "Obviously we want to get up to the top. We're not in a good position in the table of the Premier League, but it's a long way, and I think we're on the right track.”
“The biggest difference [between Ligue 1 and the Premier League] is the pace and intensity. It's much more intense here.
"Obviously, the Ligue 1 in France is physical, but I don't know if it's as intense. Here, it’s more of an attack. You attack from one side, then the other. Ligue 1 is a bit slower."
The Europa League now represents United's last chance of winning a trophy this season with the first leg against Lyon taking place in France on April 10.
Before that, they face third-place Nottingham Forest away and the Manchester derby against City at Old Trafford in the league.
"We have very important games now,” Ugarte said. “Luckily, after the break, other players from the national teams come [back from injury], and that's important.
"We're going to try to focus as much as possible, as we've been doing today, and we hope to win the first game back.”
Young defender Ayden Heaven has made a promising start to his United career after moving from Arsenal last month.
But the 18-year-old was carried off on a stretcher in the second half against Leicester and left King Power Stadium with his foot in a brace.
“He's a very strong guy,” said Ugarte. “This surprised me about him, the personality he has. He's played very well in the last few games. Let's hope he isn’t too bad and that he recovers well and is ready for what's to come”.
Captain Bruno Fernandes remains United’s best player and the Portuguese has now scored five goals and provided two assists in his last three games, including notching a hat-trick against Real Sociedad.
“Bruno is doing very well," Ugarte said of his fellow midfielder. "He's at a very high level. His quality in terms of goals, assists, and how he's committed defensively is important.
"He's the captain, and we all look up to him. I feel comfortable playing with him. He's a very good person on a daily basis.”
Ugarte now wants the team to build on the positive run of results, with the help of United's "incredible" supporters.
"It was a very good week [for United]," he said. "We showed consistency and solidity. We have to keep it up. Let's hope we keep it up and focus as much as we can on the next game. And the fans are incredible.
"It's incredible how they sing, both at home and away. Today, you could only hear the fans of United. Incredible. It's a real treat”.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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COMPANY PROFILE
Founders: Alhaan Ahmed, Alyina Ahmed and Maximo Tettamanzi
Total funding: Self funded
RESULTS
5pm Maiden (PA) Dh70,000 (Dirt) 1,400m
Winner AF Nashrah, Tadhg O’Shea (jockey), Ernst Oertel (trainer)
5.30pm Maiden (PA) Dh70,000 (D) 1,400m
Winner Mutaqadim, Riccardo Iacopini, Ibrahim Al Hadhrami.
6pm Maiden (PA) Dh70,000 (D) 1,600m
Winner Hameem, Jose Santiago, Abdallah Al Hammadi.
6.30pm Maiden (PA) Dh70,000 (D) 1,600m
Winner AF Almomayaz, Sandro Paiva, Ali Rashid Al Raihe.
7pm Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 (D) 1,800m
Winner Dalil Al Carrere, Fernando Jara, Mohamed Daggash.
7.30pm Handicap (TB) Dh70,000 (D) 1,000m
Winner Lahmoom, Royston Ffrench, Salem bin Ghadayer.
8pm Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 (D) 1,000m
Winner Jayide Al Boraq, Bernardo Pinheiro, Khalifa Al Neyadi.
RESULTS
6.30pm Al Maktoum Challenge Round-1 Group One (PA) US$65,000 (Dirt) 1,600m
Winner RB Money To Burn, Fabrice Veron (jockey), Eric Lemartinel (trainer).
7.05pm Handicap (TB) $175,000 (Turf) 1,200m
Winner Ekhtiyaar, Jim Crowley, Doug Watson.
7.40pm UAE 2000 Guineas Trial Conditions (TB) $100,000 (D) 1,600m
Winner Commanding, Richard Mullen, Satish Seemar.
8.15pm Singspiel Stakes Group Two (TB) $250,000 (T) 1,800m
Winner Benbatl, Christophe Soumillon, Saeed bin Suroor.
8.50pm Handicap (TB) $135,000 (T) 1,600m
Winner Zakouski, William Buick, Charlie Appleby.
9.25pm Al Maktoum Challenge Round-1 Group Two (TB) $350,000 (D) 1,600m
Winner Kimbear, Pat Dobbs, Doug Watson.
10pm Dubai Trophy Conditions (TB) $100,000 (T) 1,200m
Winner Platinum Star, Christophe Soumillon, Saeed bin Suroor.
10.35pm Handicap (TB) $135,000 (T) 1,600m
Winner Key Victory, James Doyle, Charlie Appleby.
More coverage from the Future Forum
The specs
Engine: Four electric motors, one at each wheel
Power: 579hp
Torque: 859Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Price: From Dh825,900
On sale: Now
The biog
Favourite colour: Brown
Favourite Movie: Resident Evil
Hobbies: Painting, Cooking, Imitating Voices
Favourite food: Pizza
Trivia: Was the voice of three characters in the Emirati animation, Shaabiyat Al Cartoon
MATCH INFO
Aston Villa 1 (Konsa 63')
Sheffield United 0
Red card: Jon Egan (Sheffield United)
The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
MATCH INFO
Syria v Australia
2018 World Cup qualifying: Asia fourth round play-off first leg
Venue: Hang Jebat Stadium (Malacca, Malayisa)
Kick-off: Thursday, 4.30pm (UAE)
Watch: beIN Sports HD
* Second leg in Australia scheduled for October 10
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
MATCH INFO
Europa League final
Who: Marseille v Atletico Madrid
Where: Parc OL, Lyon, France
When: Wednesday, 10.45pm kick off (UAE)
TV: BeIN Sports
Semi-final fixtures
Portugal v Chile, 7pm, today
Germany v Mexico, 7pm, tomorrow
ESSENTIALS
The flights
Emirates flies from Dubai to Phnom Penh via Yangon from Dh2,700 return including taxes. Cambodia Bayon Airlines and Cambodia Angkor Air offer return flights from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap from Dh250 return including taxes. The flight takes about 45 minutes.
The hotels
Rooms at the Raffles Le Royal in Phnom Penh cost from $225 (Dh826) per night including taxes. Rooms at the Grand Hotel d'Angkor cost from $261 (Dh960) per night including taxes.
The tours
A cyclo architecture tour of Phnom Penh costs from $20 (Dh75) per person for about three hours, with Khmer Architecture Tours. Tailor-made tours of all of Cambodia, or sites like Angkor alone, can be arranged by About Asia Travel. Emirates Holidays also offers packages.
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Akeed
Based: Muscat
Launch year: 2018
Number of employees: 40
Sector: Online food delivery
Funding: Raised $3.2m since inception
The finalists
Player of the Century, 2001-2020: Cristiano Ronaldo (Juventus), Lionel Messi (Barcelona), Mohamed Salah (Liverpool), Ronaldinho
Coach of the Century, 2001-2020: Pep Guardiola (Manchester City), Jose Mourinho (Tottenham Hotspur), Zinedine Zidane (Real Madrid), Sir Alex Ferguson
Club of the Century, 2001-2020: Al Ahly (Egypt), Bayern Munich (Germany), Barcelona (Spain), Real Madrid (Spain)
Player of the Year: Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, Robert Lewandowski (Bayern Munich)
Club of the Year: Bayern Munich, Liverpool, Real Madrid
Coach of the Year: Gian Piero Gasperini (Atalanta), Hans-Dieter Flick (Bayern Munich), Jurgen Klopp (Liverpool)
Agent of the Century, 2001-2020: Giovanni Branchini, Jorge Mendes, Mino Raiola
Mountain%20Boy
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
The specs: 2018 Infiniti QX80
Price: base / as tested: Dh335,000
Engine: 5.6-litre V8
Gearbox: Seven-speed automatic
Power: 400hp @ 5,800rpm
Torque: 560Nm @ 4,000rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 12.1L / 100km
Tearful appearance
Chancellor Rachel Reeves set markets on edge as she appeared visibly distraught in parliament on Wednesday.
Legislative setbacks for the government have blown a new hole in the budgetary calculations at a time when the deficit is stubbornly large and the economy is struggling to grow.
She appeared with Keir Starmer on Thursday and the pair embraced, but he had failed to give her his backing as she cried a day earlier.
A spokesman said her upset demeanour was due to a personal matter.
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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The%C2%A0specs%20
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THE%20SPECS
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MATCH INFO
Real Madrid 2 (Benzema 13', Kroos 28')
Barcelona 1 (Mingueza 60')
Red card: Casemiro (Real Madrid)
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League semi-final, first leg
Barcelona v Liverpool, Wednesday, 11pm (UAE).
Second leg
Liverpool v Barcelona, Tuesday, May 7, 11pm
Games on BeIN Sports
LA LIGA FIXTURES
Friday (UAE kick-off times)
Real Sociedad v Leganes (midnight)
Saturday
Alaves v Real Valladolid (4pm)
Valencia v Granada (7pm)
Eibar v Real Madrid (9.30pm)
Barcelona v Celta Vigo (midnight)
Sunday
Real Mallorca v Villarreal (3pm)
Athletic Bilbao v Levante (5pm)
Atletico Madrid v Espanyol (7pm)
Getafe v Osasuna (9.30pm)
Real Betis v Sevilla (midnight)
