Ally McCoist questions Man Utd’s £50m signing after draw with Everton

Ally McCoist questioned £50m Manchester United signing Manuel Ugarte as the Red Devils drew with Everton at Goodison Park. United’s dismal form under Ruben Amorim looked set to continue on Saturday as the rejuvenated Toffees raced into a two-goal lead.

Ugarte started the Premier League clash following a recent injury lay-off but was failing to impress TNT Sports’ co-commentator and ex-Scotland striker McCoist. Manchester United conceded two poor first-half goals as Beto scored his fifth in as many games and the impressive Abdoulaye Doucoure headed home the hosts’ second.

But United produced an impressive and unexpected comeback, Bruno Fernandes firing home a superb free-kick with 20 minutes remaining before Ugarte’s volley brought the visitors level. Both teams had chances to nick a late winner – with VAR controversially intervening to overturn a late Everton penalty – but the score remained 2-2 after a fiery and entertaining clash.

Discussing United’s display before their late comeback, McCoist said: ‘The first thing you have to say is that Everton have been great. ‘But United have got to lift and start asking questions of opponents. You need to ask a question of the opposition back-four. They haven’t done that.

‘I just think about the middle of the park, Casemiro has been slightly better but I loom at Ugarte, I’m not seeing it with him at this moment in time. I’m really not seeing it. Those two aren’t really handling the intensity.’. Ugarte, who completed a £50m move from Paris Saint-Germain last summer, has endured an underwhelming first season at Old Trafford but will buoyed after scoring his first goal for the club to salvage a point against Everton.

Manchester United legend Rio Ferdinand described his former club’s performance as ’embarrassing’ before their second-half comeback. ‘I’m sitting here and I don’t know if I have seen a United team play his bad,’ he said. ‘It has been embarrassing in all different facets of the game.

‘Yes, we can talk about quality, you talk about talent, but one thing which is unforgiveable is a lack of desire. ‘There’s instances in this game where Man Utd need to look at this Everton team and take examples from it. It’s embarrassing to sit here and watch it.’.

Reacting to United’s comeback, Ferdinand added: ‘Goals change games. They cannot continue like this, they have got to start games like they mean it. ‘The substitutions were big. Alejandro Garnacho changed things, Bruno Fernandes dropping deep, but there’s so many things to pick this performance apart. They were positive at the end and that’s where you’ve got to look.

‘I was feeling the worst when VAR got involved. I was surprised it wasn’t given. The contact is there. When you put your hands on someone you give the referee a decision.’. The draw leaves Everton 12th and Manchester United 15th in the Premier League table ahead of the remaining weekend games.

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