Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag claims Casemiro's absence from the Premier League starting XI was down to their winning run.
United signed Casemiro for a fee of £60million rising to £70m from Real Madrid on August 22 but the 30-year-old is yet to start in the Premier League.
The Brazil international emerged on the hour of the 6-3 humbling by Manchester City on Sunday and could come into the starting XI against Everton on Sunday.
Ten Hag's failure to integrate Casemiro into the line-up against Southampton, Leicester and Arsenal proved costly at the Etihad as United started without a defensive midfielder again and Scott McTominay was overwhelmed by City's superior midfield.
Casemiro was paraded by United on the evening they beat Liverpool 2-1 to embark on a four-game winning run in the league.
"On the day we signed him, we started to win and it's about the team," Ten Hag said. "The team is doing really well, it's not against Casemiro, it's for, in this case, Scott McTominay, he performed great in the team and then we get into a run.
"But I'm sure it will be important for us in the long and short-term, he will find himself in the team but it has to come in a natural way."
Casemiro appeared in both of Brazil's friendlies during the September internationals but their wins against Ghana and Tunisia were played in France to limit players' travel.
Ten Hag must decide whether to start Casemiro against Omonia Nicosia in United's third Europa League group stage game on Thursday before the trip to Goodison Park.
JacobStr8Up
1
I can guarantee you if Casemiro started the score would have been less drastic. This guy was the iron wall for Messi at Madrid. He is the key to winning titles.
MwenePuta
0
Pair Mctominay with Martinez! He's a defender in Scotland and does really well!!!
yiabemort
0
I taught u had more sense ten hag but it seems like ur just like ole and the English pundits how can mctominay be a top player how many times he fails u and harry maguire and mctominay won’t get man United bk to title am sure
tekacelrz
2
He keep on explaining he's not going for man utd u can't keep on explaining we need win nd better playing
lopcikryz
1
This coach of MANUTD seems to be more clever. He is facing the AXE.
rehklnort
2
bench mctominay and start him backline will be more superior..
stunningzeus
0
United chose to order a cheap version of Pep online
[image]
Pep is really angry 😠😡 with him for winning the cotm
Unitedme
2
Having great players like Casimero and you bench him instead of integrating him as a starter in each game just to adapt to the EPL games. I just don't understand this Eric Ten Hag decision sometimes. Scot doesn't deserve a starting call before Casimoero at all. I hope Eric has learned something good.6-3 result looks bad, humiliating but how we came back into the game in the last part of the game, especially after the introduction of Casimero I hope and believe that we gonna go into the next game with that great commitment and approach with Casimero into the starting 11.
AlviNashys
1
But now we have lost what's next now are u going to bench him on Thursday n Sunday?
Kadaemrstu
1
ten jag he's full of excuses🤦
Temple7
2
United chose to order a cheap version of Pep online
EZEUDO
3
TEH, your team selection was totally wrong, that cause us the lost.
yieaiknstz
3
this Tan guy will not survive after December. mark my word !!! please keep your replies to yourself!!!
bepcelns
0
you explain every match. now United become good for nothing. only for namesake.
yopbcinuyz
2
TEH that was a biggest mistake you made MANUTD against such a big Club MAN city, you leave CR7 and Casemiro. These guys should start in such a team. Learn the team you're playing against. Mactomy, CR7, Christian and Casemiro should never Miss in the starting in such Big marches.
ManUnited-Red
1
We need to do better 👍🏽
ZaidanKhan
1
Ten hag you should know there's not only 11 player in the squad, there's r other you should know how to rotate the players in the games so they can remain confident, fit and valuable, you should learn this from Zidane. If u give casemiro a regular chance manu should it lost the game by 6 goals.
Chidera200
3
In conclusion, he doesn't want Ronaldo to be left alone on the bench... Casemiro is his companion
Shauny300
7
oh yeah signed a better player for 70m then come with nonsense about winning streak lmao Casemiro only would make that winning streak team better