Carrick vs Schweinsteiger
With the signing of Bastian Schweinsteiger, it seems that Manchester United have made his position all but safe in the starting XI. The question that many United supporters are asking is that with Bastian in the side just who plays with him?
Herrera, Carrick, Blind and Schneiderlin all want to have a crack in the team, but only one player can join Bastian in the middle of the park. It could be that Bastian would take Carrick’s position in the team. We look at just how Carrick and Bastian have performed over the past season for their respective clubs and see who had a better season.
Fewer games for both players but the signs are good
Using Squawka stats, we compare the averages of both players per game. Carrick although featured in two fewer league games than Bastian, he did have a better pass completion rate with 90% pass completion compared to the 88% of Bastian.
However, it is the German World Cup winner who seems to win every other stat that is provided. Bastian does have a better record when it comes to tackles won with 1.2 tackles own per game compared to the 1.06 won by Carrick.
Bastian also wins more aerial duels in the centre of midfield which is extremely important in a team like Manchester United’s. Bastian averaged 1.9 aerial duels won per game last season for Munich while Carrick averaged just 0.7 aerial duel wins last season for United.
Carrick does seem to read opponents better than Bastian as he averaged 1.72 interceptions per game last season while Bastian only got in 1.4 interceptions per game, but Bastian does win the battle overall.
The former Bayern Munich player does have a better stat when it comes to key passes made, the German averaged 1.30 key passes per game, but Carrick averaged only 0.33 key passes per game. His ability to provide key passes could make Bastian one of the key players for Manchester United last season.
Bastian also has a higher possession score than Carrick with 13.36 compared to the 10.79. His strength and ability to hold the ball could make Bastian one of the players to keep an eye out for next season. He might be closer to 31 but he still has a lot to give to the club and Manchester United fans will be hoping that he can step-up to the Premier League soon.
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