At MU now, midfielder Mason Mount is one of the names trusted by coach Ruben Amorim, despite his contributions to the Red Devils relatively limited. Why is there such a paradox?
The players loved by fans are not always the players who are treasured by the coach. When Mount at the peak of his form, that is, about half a decade ago, he was often considered to be completely opposite to Jack Grealish in the preparation stage for EURO 2020. If Grealish is a pitch artist, an unexpected card, some 10 can create an unbelievable thing, Mount is labeled “the teacher of the teacher”. Many people even questioned: What did he bring?
If Greealish is a individualist player model, then Mount is a “system player”. First of all, he always strictly complies with the coach's direction. Above all, he owns tactical intelligence: always understands the operation of the system, finding space, and helping teammates play better.
In MU's 0-1 defeat against Arsenal at Old Trafford, a match that MU overwhelmed and created more opportunities, Mount reminded everyone why the coaches appreciated him so much.
Mounting the main kick in this match is actually surprised. The three major summer contracts of MU include Matheus Cunha, Benjamin Sesko and Bryan Mbeumo, which were defaulted as the main attack trio in the 3-4-2-1 scheme that Amorim was determined to apply. But Sesko only had a week of training before the season, so Mount was given the opportunity. The highest kick in the attack, while Mount took on the role of a left -losing midfielder.
This is also the position and system where he used to play the best, especially under Thomas Tuchel in Chelsea, who was in the stands of Old Trafford as the current England coach.
When Amorim took over MU in November last year, only 3 players in the squad used to play above the average of his career in the three -defense diagram: Rasmus Hojlund, Manuel Ugarte and Mount. For the first two people, they still have to wait to see if they have enough quality. With Mount, the main problem is fitness: he has not played a full 90 minutes in the Premier League for MU, two years after leaving Chelsea.
But from the beginning of the match against Arsenal, Mount has recalled his familiar image. Look at the 26 -year -old midfielder to welcome the long pass of goalkeeper Altay Bayindir: Standing exactly between Ben White (right -back) and William Saliba (center -back). Gabriel raised his hand to blame his teammates: “Who is Mount?”, And it is true that Saliba should have done that. The whole match, Mount constantly selected the right position this type to receive the ball.
In a right -foot player kicking the left -left midfielder, the most important thing is to find the gap between the routes and launch the cross -broken passes.
After only 5 minutes, Mount proved that with a passing line for Mbeumo, reminiscent of the assist for him for Kai Havertz to score in the Champions League 2021 final against Man City. Unfortunately this time Mbeumo controlled a bit strong and finished David Raya.
In the middle of the first half, Mount continued to cross the yard for Mbeumo, recreating the outstanding features in the MU game when Amorim had just replaced the HAG name: The quick -way changes. This pass helped Mbeumo return to Diogo Dalot to ice, but he fell into the offside position due to a passing slowly.
However, the key to the 3-4-2-1 diagram is the link between the two strikers back to Wing-back. And Mount always knows where his “wing-back” is. A typical example: Mount pulls White inward, knows the opposite of the empty, then turns a touch with the left foot to Patrick Dorgu, opens half of the wide yard.
The match against Arsenal is probably the best match of Dorgu since joining MU from Lecce in January. It is no coincidence that he played behind Mount – a “silent conductor”. Dorgu clearly likes to combine with Mount, with sometimes he moves her wings in while Mount holds the border, sometimes the opposite.
In the second half, MU strengthened the left wing power when Luke Shaw (left rock in the trio of defenders) rising to the attack. There was a situation where Dorgu clung to the edge, Shaw stacked in, while Mount kept the space in the middle to receive the ball back and then shot. Unfortunately, the ball is blocked.
In addition, there are phase swapping positions: Dorgu bundle into rocks like Mount, Shaw drifted like Dorgu, and Mount backwards the ball on the ball. The seemingly simple details, but compares with the right wing of MU, where Mbeumo and Amad Diallo often deviate to the rhythm, to see how important it is.
It has been 6 years since Mount launched the Premier League, also at Old Trafford. That day, although Chelsea lost 0-4, Mount still impressed with the ability to move and link the game. But throughout his career, he often had to hear skepticism: “Good kick, but have scoring or assists?”. The match yesterday.
MU this season bought 3 excellent attack stars. But the past proves that they have owned many excellent individuals without cohesion. Mount is the player who creates that cohesion – a “system player”, helping the team play better.
And that is why the coach always likes him.
