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Ruben Amorim’s Manchester United have a secret weapon in ‘phenomenal’ Mason Mount skill
Much has been made of the impact Ruben Amorim could have on an underachieving Manchester United squad? But is Mason Mount’s Red Devils’ career already beyond saving?
Well, much will depend on whether or not the £55 million, seldom-seen midfielder can finally put his long-standing injury issues in the rearview mirror.
Ruud van Nistelrooy had good news about Leny Yoro’s Manchester United return ahead of the Europa League clash with PAOK on Thursday night. Harry Maguire and even Tyrell Malacia are making progress too.
But while Mason Mount may have marked his own return to the training pitch in midweek, the United supporters have seen this story before. Out of the garage and straight away another flat tyre, few would give Mount much hope of passing his MOT.
Though Jody Morris, who worked with Mount at Chelsea, indicates that the England international can still have a part to play at Manchester United. Providing, of course, that he stays on the pitch long enough to make his presence felt.
Mason Mount could shine at Ruben Amorim’s Manchester United
The manner in which Ruben Amorim’s Sporting side swarmed Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City during Tuesday’s enthralling Champions League demolition job certainly raised the excitement levels at Old Trafford, yes.
But it also incurred some rather awkward questions.
Can Amorim impart these same principles on his new Man United squad? Manuel Ugarte should benefit from an Amorim reunion, but can Casemiro, Bruno Fernandes, Christian Eriksen and even Kobbie Mainoo fulfil the off-the-ball work the 39-year-old demands?
Only time will tell.
What is not up for debate, however, is that Man United looked a damn sight more effective, more organised as a pressing unit when Mason Mount was starting games at the beginning of the season.
It was only after he picked up yet another injury – in that 2-1 defeat to Brighton – that United slipped back into the bad habits of 2023/24; opponents slicing through their melting midfield again like a knife through hot butter.
“There is so many layers to it,” says Morris, the former Chelsea assistant explaining why Mount is so effective in a side who wants to press high. “If you want to get after the ball, a lot of teams class themselves as ‘pressing teams’ but they only really want to press from re-starts.
“The best pressing teams – Liverpool under Klopp was amazing at pressing – you have to have fit players, ones who are willing to run, [and also have] the tactical nous.
“You get midfielders who can come through and go and press with the [number] nine. At Chelsea, we had Mason Mount, who was phenomenal pressing from the middle of the pitch.”
Rio Ferdinand blames Erik ten Hag for United’s pressing struggles
Rio Ferdinand, a six-time Premier League winner under Sir Alex Ferguson at Old Trafford, does not buy into the idea that this Man United team is simply too work-shy to fulfil a high-pressing gameplan.
He feels that the Red Devils roster was simply left confused amidst the chaos of Erik ten Hag’s system, while their midfielders were often exhausted by the sheer amount of ground they were forced to cover
“I have heard a lot of people say; ‘These Manchester United players don’t want to run. They want run enough, the intensity is not there’,” Ferdinand argues.
“But I argue against that a little bit. I don’t feel its a lack of desire. The structure of the team can also take the running out of you.”
If Ruben Amorim can add some order to the chaos, if Mason Mount can finally put together a run of games in red, then there is no reason why Man United cannot finally become an effective pressing team at last sooner.
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