Erik ten Hag has launched a passionate defence of under-fire Casemiro and claims the Brazilian WILL bring more success to Manchester United.
Casemiro came in for heavy criticism after his performance in the 2-2 draw at Bournemouth last Saturday, with Sky Sports pundit Jamie Redknapp saying the 32-year-old midfielder “looks like he is in Soccer Aid.”
After signing for £70million from Real Madrid in the summer of 2022, Casemiro shone in his first year at Old Trafford, helping the club lift the Carabao Cup. But in a season in which he has missed three months through injury, his form has dipped severely and he has also been singled out for criticism from fans.
Ten Hag, though, believes Casemiro remains a key player, saying: “We needed a six when I arrived here and last season he was fantastic. I don’t think he had ever scored so many goals but as a holding midfielder, he was so important to the team.
“This season he has struggled with a bad injury that he never had in his career but he is such a winner - all his career, he has always won. Everywhere he was, there was success. And I trust he will also bring us success.
“I know he needs games and he will be better. I am very confident about him, he is a fighter, that is why he has won big trophies. He is a personality and is a very important player.”
Casemiro will line up against Coventry City in the FA Cup semi-final on Sunday, nearly 14 months after celebrating United’s Carabao Cup triumph at the same venue.
Casemiro scored the opener against Newcastle United in that game and won the Man of the Match award.
“In that game - and not just that game but also in qualifying for the Champions League - he was such an important factor,” said Ten Hag. “He made a difference.”
As he looked ahead to the showdown with Mark Robins’ Championship side, Ten Hag was keen to move on from the latest social media misstep by one of his players.
Alejandro Garnacho ‘liked’ a message which criticised Ten Hag for substituting his young striker midway through the draw at Bournemouth. “It’s over - he (Garnacho) apologised for it.”
In the wake of the display at Bournemouth, Ten Hag’s future again came under scrutiny but the Dutchman is adamant he is only focusing on reaching a second successive FA Cup final.
He went on: “I am thinking only about Sunday - about how we are going to beat Coventry City. We want to get to the final. We know they are dangerous - look at how they played against Wolves (in the quarter-finals). But we are prepared.
“We know we can beat the best teams. When we play to our levels, we can play to a high.”