Andrey Santos May Be Michael Carrick’s Secret to Balance Ahead of a Difficult Run

Manchester United’s 1-1 draw with Leeds United did little to improve the club’s standing in the Premier League table, nor did it calm down any speculation surrounding Michael Carrick’s job security.

However, it was a result that was borne out of grit and determination… two words you wouldn’t have associated with this United team at any point this season.

Make no mistake, there was very little quality in the match, and it never felt like Manchester United had enough in their locker to put Leeds to the sword… but they had found a degree of balance.

An uncomfortable truth has faced Manchester United fans this term… the club’s defence isn’t strong enough, and Ayden Heaven and Leny Yoro aren’t close enough to being ready to take over as a central pairing.

The hope prior to the season was that Heaven and Yoro would be able to form a partnership and Matthijs de Ligt would be back fit from the start.

Neither has happened, and we’ve seen the awkward blend of Harry Maguire, Lisandro Martinez and even Noussair Mazraoui at centre-half.

As such, Manchester United’s defence needs protecting. Packing the midfield is very difficult in a team whose best player is a creative No.10.

In finding a spot for Bruno Fernandes, United always appear light in deeper positions.

Casemiro did a lot positionally, but lacked the legs to cover ground, whilst Kobbie Mainoo isn’t athletic enough to do this job on his own.

The 2026/27 season has shown that Youri Tielemans and Mainoo are too similar to play together. United’s midfield has been catastrophically open with those two starting games.

In Madrid, Carrick tested a midfield trio consisting of Tielemans, Andrey Santos and Carlos Baleba.

The result was a more protected defence, and in truth it was a match where United had chances to draw or even win.

Sunday’s trip to Elland Road saw a continued use of that trio of players, with Fernandes being pushed to a wide-right position.

It may not be exciting, but this experiment might have highlighted the use of one player in particular.

Michael Carrick May Start to Lean on Andrey Santos

Manchester United need to start winning matches regularly. Draws won’t save their season. However, the basis for that may come with this midfield redesign.

Mainoo and Tielemans need runners around them, and with United’s wide options being so limited, moving Fernandes out to the flank makes a degree of sense, even if it limits his own productivity.

Manchester United’s performance against Leeds was physical. They matched the intensity set by the hosts and responded to challenges with ones of their own.

Andrey Santos has yet to truly wow fans, but he’s been steady. He’s reliable on the ball, doesn’t treat it like a hand grenade, and he’s a willing runner.

United’s defence needs this extra help, at least until De Ligt returns. It’s difficult to make a case for Santos not being in the team until that juncture.

Baleba looks to be a player with considerable talent and personality, meaning it may be the case that Tielemans/Mainoo need to rotate for the third spot in that midfield triangle.

This project seems more prevalent given how dissatisfied Fernandes feels with life at Old Trafford at this moment, with the expectation being that this could be his last season with the club.

Discussions over his contract have stalled, with it difficult to see the player wanting to continue in red.

For the moment, United need to return to winning ways, and whilst he wasn’t a star signing. Andrey Santos and the balance he brings to the team may well be the best route to those victories.