08.08.2010 17:21

Dos Santos, a solid alternative

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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.