08.08.2010 17:21
Dos Santos, a solid alternative
www.fcbarcelona.cat
Pep Guardiola has handed Jonathan dos Santos a central midfield role in all of the team’s three pre-season friendlies and the young Mexican has responded with some good performances.
Given that the young Mexican has been freed up from next week’s international game, he must
be one of the favourites to start next weekend’s Super Cup game against Seville. Against
Valerenga in Norway he was part of the starting eleven, wearing the number 4 shirt, which he
repeated in the two games in Asia. Guardiola has again shown his trust in a youngster and has again
been duly rewarded with an excellent response from Dos Santos.
Versatile
With Toure and Marquez no longer at the club, Guardiola has
considerably less options in midfield and has clearly decided to try out the Mexican in the key
role, explaining: “he can play in three different midfield roles. He’s a very
disciplined player and he reads the game well. He can even play up front if we need him to”.
Whatever is needed
Although sitting in front of the back four isn’t one of his favourite positions, Dos
Santos insists: “I feel comfortable there, though Keita can also play in that role.
It’s not my natural position, but I’ve tried hard in these three games and if the boss
wants me there, I’ll do it”.
Super Cup could be an opening
Dos Santos managed to get released from the Mexican squad and he’s eager to
take the chance of playing in the first team next Saturday against Seville. With Xavi and Busquets
having to play in Mexico on Wednesday and Iniesta not starting training till Monday, Dos Santos and
Keita increasingly look like an option Guardiola could well turn to for the game in the Sanchez
Pizjuan.