Erik ten Hag faced another setback as he managed his former club, FC Utrecht, in a testimonial match on Sunday.

This latest defeat adds to the mounting pressure on the Dutch manager, who is already reeling from Manchester United’s recent losses to Liverpool and Brighton.

The testimonial match was held in honor of Mark van der Maarel, a beloved club icon who retired recently after an impressive 15-year career at the Galgenwaard Stadium.

Van der Maarel, 35, spent his entire professional career at Utrecht, earning widespread admiration from fans and teammates.

The game saw a team of current Utrecht players take on a squad of former players, with ten Hag leading the latter. He had played for Utrecht briefly in 1995 and later managed the team for two years starting in 2015.

Ten Hag’s return to his old club was hoped to provide a morale boost before he resumes his duties at Manchester United early next week. However, his team fell short, losing 2-1. Urby Emanuelson and Ruud Boymans scored for the current Utrecht squad, while Van der Maarel’s late goal was not enough to secure a win for the former players.

Despite the defeat, ten Hag lauded Van der Maarel’s contribution, saying, “If you stay at this club for so long, you are a character. He has truly earned this.”

Van der Maarel, who debuted for Utrecht in 2009, made 397 official appearances for the club, placing him third on Utrecht’s all-time list for most games played.

Manuel Ugarte has dispelled concerns about his fitness with a standout performance for Uruguay in their recent World Cup qualifier.

Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag had earlier suggested that the £50.8 million midfielder might require time to fully integrate into the team. However, Ugarte, despite starting under Uruguay’s head coach Marcelo Bielsa, displayed no signs of sluggishness during Uruguay’s 0-0 draw against Paraguay.

The 23-year-old delivered a commanding performance, completing 52 passes and winning 12 duels before being substituted in the 79th minute. His efforts drew praise from Bielsa, who highlighted Ugarte’s exceptional ball recovery skills, which became a focal point for fans during the match.

Bielsa told reporters, “We had players with great ability to recover the ball. I think what the fans appreciated the most was the number of times Ugarte and our full-backs regained possession.”

After the match, Ugarte, formerly of PSG, expressed his readiness to join Ten Hag’s Manchester United squad. “I’m very happy, hungry, and excited. I feel great and have prepared myself well. While I haven’t played many minutes this season, physically, I feel very good,” he said.

United’s disappointing start to the season, with just one win in their first three Premier League matches, has been a cause for concern. However, Ugarte’s strong performance should reassure Ten Hag that his fitness is not an issue.

Last week, Ten Hag had mentioned that it might take “a couple of weeks, maybe even months” to fully integrate Ugarte into the team. But after this impressive showing, those concerns may now be behind him.

The nominees for the 2024 Kopa Trophy have been announced, featuring Barcelona‘s Lamine Yamal and Manchester United‘s Kobbie Mainoo among the shortlisted talents.

The Kopa Trophy, previously awarded to rising stars like Kylian Mbappe and Jude Bellingham, recognizes the best under-21 player who made a significant impact during the 2023/24 season. The award is determined by a vote from previous Ballon d’Or winners and will be presented at a ceremony in Paris on October 28.

Manchester United’s Kobbie Mainoo and Alejandro Garnacho are both on the shortlist after standout performances in the Premier League. Despite the Red Devils facing challenges throughout the season, Mainoo and Garnacho managed to shine, with Mainoo even earning a call-up to Gareth Southgate’s Euro 2024 squad.

Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal also secured a spot on the list, following his role in Spain’s victory over England in the Euro 2024 final. The 17-year-old made history as the youngest player ever to score in the European Championships, achieving this milestone just days before his 17th birthday.

Other nominees include Real Madrid’s Arda Guler, Barcelona’s Pau Cubarsi, Bayern Munich’s Mathys Tel, Manchester City’s Savinho, PSG’s Joao Neves and Warren Zaire-Emery, and RB Salzburg’s Karim Konate.

Kopa Trophy 2024 Nominees:

• Warren Zaire-Emery
• Lamine Yamal
• Mathys Tel
• Savinho
• Joao Neves
• Kobbie Mainoo
• Karim Konate
• Arda Guler
• Alejandro Garnacho
• Pau Cubarsi

When is the Kopa Trophy Winner Announced?
The Kopa Trophy will be awarded on October 28 at the Theatre du Chatelet in Paris, France.