​Carrick drops clearest hint of his plans for Andrey Santos as Man United look to avoid a Chelsea repeat2
For most who watched Manchester United’s pre-season friendlies, one thing stood out clearly: in Andrey Santos, the club had signed an exceptionally talented midfielder.The Brazilian proved an instant hit. He brought composure and assurance to the engine room, constantly demanded the ball, dropped deep to receive it, and displayed an impressive passing range.Many United fans also noted the excellent understanding he quickly developed with Mason Mount. Together, they formed a lively and effective partnership in the middle of the park.Both having missed the World Cup and featuring heavily throughout pre-season, a Mount-Santos midfield looked the natural choice for Michael Carrick at the start of the campaign, while he gradually eased Kobbie Mainoo and Youri Tielemans into the side. However, Mount picked up an injury that derailed those plans.Carrick then tried the Santos-Tielemans partnership, but it never quite worked, not against AC Milan nor Hull City. When it came to deciding who to drop between Tielemans and Santos to accommodate Mainoo, Santos paid the price, despite outperforming the Belgian against Hull City.The Mainoo-Tielemans midfield has since proved a massive hit. With the pair at the centre of the park, United’s engine room is no longer a concern but has become a strength.And with that partnership now preferred, Santos may sense a wave of déjà vu, recalling the game-time struggles he endured behind Enzo Fernandez and Moisés Caicedo at Chelsea. However, before Stamford Bridge faithful rush to remind the Samba star that he left only to land in an identical situation, Carrick has already hinted at his plans for Santos.Carrick’s hint on midfield plans and how Andrey Santos fits inAfter United’s commanding Champions League win over Sabah Baku, the Man United head coach admitted via BBC:“It’s nice to get Mason [Mount] and Andrey [Santos]. There are some good connections, and we have played some good football through the middle of the pitch.”These admissions proved telling of United’s midfield plans, and here is why:Some United fans must have worried that Santos, who had been on the bench for the previous two games, would continue to be overlooked upon seeing the starting XI for the clash with Sabah Baku. This was a game in which he deserved a chance to prove his worth, much like Ayden Heaven did.Fortunately, by the 65th minute, after Mount came on for Tielemans at half-time and Santos replaced Mainoo in the 64th minute, Carrick had returned to the midfield pivot, Santos-Mount, that served him so well in pre-season.Crucially, the pair did not disappoint. They rediscovered their chemistry instantly, which explains Carrick’s admission that United’s level did not drop despite the changes.Two strong midfield partnershipsAll of this suggests Carrick now believes he has two distinct midfield partnerships at his disposal.De