Manchester United bounced back from the Wrexham loss with a 5-0 rout of Rosenborg, and Andrey Santos is proving to be a Casemiro upgrade in one key area.
After an unassuming debut for Man Utd vs Wrexham, Andrey Santos got another 60 minutes under his belt, and the improvement was clear.
The Brazilian is already developing a partnership with Mason Mount at the base of the midfield, and his progressive passing is a clear asset.
However, it was in another area where he’s proving to be the biggest Casemiro upgrade, and Michael Carrick will be thankful for it.
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Casemiro had a weak zone at Man Utd
Casemiro had quite a fairytale ending to his Man Utd career as he scored crucial goals to send the club into this year’s Champions League.
However, nobody should mistake his performances as complete, since he was clearly a step slower, and Carrick had to plan around it.
The World Cup exposed those weaknesses, and Santos’ game against Rosenborg showed what difference it makes to have a mobile midfielder.
Last season, United conceded a specific type of goal way too often for it to be a coincidence.
The opposition would play the ball out wide, and a cut-back cross would arrive to a player running at it on the edge of the box.
Normally, the defensive midfielder would be there to intercept that cross or block the shot, but Casemiro was often found getting ready for a potential counter-attack instead.
It resulted in the opposition getting a free shot in plenty of space, something which Santos is fixing.
Andrey Santos’ mobility is fixing that weakness
In contrast, Santos is a more secure defensive midfielder, in the sense that he likes to play the ball forward, but doesn’t leave his position to do so.
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He will drop between the centre-backs to circulate possession, cut off passing lanes, and always patrol the edge of the box while defending.
It allows the defenders to hold their line and engage with the attackers instead of worrying about cut-backs, which Santos handles.
Against Rosenborg, there were multiple instances of Santos being at the right place at the right time in that weak zone of Casemiro.
That is the sort of thing that goes under the radar when it is done well, but looks ugly when it isn’t.
Man Utd fans would learn to appreciate the skill after two seasons of the opposition midfielders enjoying shooting practice from the edge of the box.
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