Andrey Santos has played just two games for Man Utd so far, but he’s already reviving his teammate’s career spectacularly.
After 45 minutes against Wrexham, Andrey Santos ramped it up to 60 against Rosenborg, looking even more comfortable in the Man Utd XI.
His progressive passing and positional discipline are adding a unique trait to United’s midfield that they missed last season.
In the process, he has separated himself from Casemiro in a way that his teammate will be thankful for.
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Michael Carrick has backed Mason Mount…
Andrey Santos’ discipline separates him from Casemiro
Casemiro had a fairytale ending to his Man Utd career, but nostalgia paints that spell to look better than it actually was.
Goals were the main thing United received from him instead of traditional defensive midfield duties.
Michael Carrick had to plan his whole system to account for Casemiro’s merry forays forward, leaving Kobbie Mainoo to often perform the defensive tasks for two players.
Andrey Santos, in contrast, is a proper defensive midfielder, or what Casemiro used to be before his lack of mobility started hurting him at the top level.
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He covers both boxes, drops between his centre-backs, patrols Casemiro’s weak zone from the previous season, and cuts out attacks with gusto.
This allows his defensive midfield partner to concentrate on his game instead of covering for him, which has been a boon for Mason Mount.
Mason Mount’s Man Utd career is reviving with Santos
Carrick has deployed Mason Mount next to Andrey Santos in both pre-season games so far, and they have gone from strength to strength.
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Mount was imperious against Rosenborg in the deeper role, empowered by Santos’ more defensive skill set, so he could use his own engine as a disruptor for the opposition attacks.
Mount said as much recently, “He’s a really good player and reads the game very well. He’s a little bit more defensive, so it allows me to push on a little bit more and work off him. Defensively as well, we’re both players that want to get around it, put tackles in, win the ball back and be aggressive.”
Santos holding position and Mount becoming the roaming free-safety midfielder works perfectly, because the latter’s understanding of pressing schemes is second to none.
Once the ball is won back, having two technically excellent midfielders works to United’s favour as Carrick’s ideal style of play is being implemented this season.
Mount needed this season to be a success to stay at Old Trafford next summer, and in Santos, he has found the perfect partner for a revival in a new position.
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