Mason Mount may have his critics, but there is a reason why Ruben Amorim is the latest talented head coach to take a liking to Manchester United’s number seven.
Shortly after his official unveiling at Old Trafford, Ruben Amorim professed his love for Mason Mount.
And while some wondered where the England international would fit into the former Sporting boss’ system, Amorim insists that he has two roles in mind for Mount as another new era gets underway for Manchester United.
With Bruno Fernandes pushed back into a deeper, playmaking role, Mason Mount started on the right of Amorim’s narrow front three on Thursday night.
And, in one of his sharper performances in United colours, Mount hit the bar just after half-time and then played a major role as Rasmus Hojlund completed at Europa League brace either side of the interval.
Ruben Amorim hails Mason Mount’s role in Manchester United win
Following an impressive period of probing possession play, Mount’s clever flick around the corner played in an overlapping Manuel Ugarte. The Uruguayan’s driven cross was then tapped in gleefully by Hojlund at the far post.
And, speaking ahead of Man United’s Premier League clash with Everton on Sunday, Amorim feels that Mount proved a point or two as he made it past the 60 minute mark for the first time since this season’s opening weekend.
“First thing, he is working really hard and then you have to understand he is human also,” Amorim says of Mount. “He wants this really bad and that is the most important thing. He proved to all of you that he is a talented player.
“He was a European champion [with Chelsea] also and we believe a lot in him.”
Of course, whether the £55 million signing can make a success of his time at Manchester United will depend largely on whether he can put those seemingly endless injury issues behind him.
Should he be included in Amorim’s XI when Sean Dyche’s team arrive at Old Trafford, that will be only his eighth top-flight start in a Red Devils shirt.
“He has to stay fit, like all the guys in the team. They are quality players, but they have to improve and believe in themselves,” Amorim adds. “Today, he did a great job, and you see in some moments and details that you can see that Mason Mount is a proper footballer.
“We believe a lot in him, and I especially believe a lot in Mason Mount.”
Amorim explains changing Bruno Fernandes’ position vs Bodo/Glimt
Mount’s technical flexibility and high-pressing talents mean he certainly looks well-suited to ‘Amorim-ball’. According to The Telegraph, Amorim is planning to use Mount’s energy to make darting runs in behind opposition backlines, resulting in the sort of assist Ugarte produced for Hojlund as Bodo/Glimt’s 2-1 lead was turned around inside five minutes at Old Trafford.
Amorim also feels that Bruno Fernandes is better suited than Mount to playing as one of the deeper-lying midfielders.
“[Bruno] is the most experienced player,” Amorim explains. “He’s the right player to dictate the tempo. Mason Mount was always with his back to goal, which is difficult and Bruno is better with the goal in front of him.
“[The opposition] play with a back four. They close [the spaces] inside so we are trying to switch the play all the time and Bruno is the best one at doing that.
“So that’s why I think he is [better suited as a deeper] midfielder.”
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