'I'm not Harry Potter' - Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag issues Manuel Ugarte warning
Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag protested he is "not Harry Potter" as he plans to integrate new signing Manuel Ugarte into the team after Casemiro's shambolic performance in their 3-0 defeat to Liverpool.
Casemiro lost possession for both of Liverpool's first-half goals at Old Trafford and the Brazilian was substituted at half-time, having been dropped for the FA Cup final last season.
£52.8million arrival Ugarte was introduced to United fans before kick-off following his transfer deadline day arrival from Paris Saint-Germain but Ten Hag warned the 23-year-old midfielder could take "months" to adapt in England.
"So this is another one: we have to build him into the team," Ten Hag cautioned. "It will take time, so it's not like I'm Harry Potter. That is what you have to acknowledge.
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"And if you see Manuel Ugarte, he didn't play so far in the season. Not one match minute. So he needs to build his fitness rate and then we have to build him in the team and I am sure he will contribute to our level and he will be an important player but that will take a couple of weeks, maybe even months.
"And it counts for more players. Joshua Zirkzee, he made big steps the last three or four weeks, I am very pleased with his performance today but I didn't expect this four weeks ago."
Casemiro was filmed leaving Old Trafford and it was suggested he exited the stadium at half-time but the club clarified he left at full-time.
Ten Hag substituted the 32-year-old at half-time with United 1-0 down at home to Brentford 11 months ago and Casemiro has been a shadow of the influential figure he was