Casemiro started Manchester United’s first game of the new Premier League season against Arsenal and provided a solid performance despite the result.
Manchester United displayed many positives in their opening weekend clash against Arsenal despite the 1-0 defeat and Casemiro’s display was one of those.
Despite a quiet start to the game, Casemiro grew into the clash and began to make some strong contributions in and out of possession.
The Brazilian midfielder is probably the best option in United’s midfield if he is playing at his best but there have been concerns over his ability to keep his form in the Premier League.
Jamie Carragher was the pundit to highlight these concerns, after the ex-Liverpool defender told the five-times Champions League winner to ‘leave the football before the football leaves you’ at the beginning of last season.
Since then, however, the Brazilian midfielder has been one of United’s better performers and some have called for Carragher to make an apology.
Casemiro provides the perfect response to Carragher question
Casemiro’s form under Erik ten Hag was awful but the Dutchman also set his team up in an unsustainable way, with the midfield covering way too much space.
There is still plenty of physical demands in the engine room under Amorim but Casemiro looks more comfortable in this setup.
After the clash against Arsenal, the ex-Real Madrid star spoke to reporters and was asked whether he wants to prove people wrong by performing in the Premier League – clearly based around Carragher’s criticism of him.
Casemiro responded in the perfect fashion by refusing to acknowledge those kind of comments. He also reiterated that he is happy at the club.
“I am very happy here,” he stated. “My family is happy here. I enjoy every day at Carrington and at Old Trafford. If people talk from the outside, that’s fine, it doesn’t interest me. I just want to focus on winning.”
Casemiro will play plenty of football this season
Casemiro’s contract at Old Trafford expires next summer and it is extremely unlikely that he is offered new terms at the club.
That doesn’t mean he won’t be useful this season, especially without the need to play more than once a week, and he clearly wants to prove a point.
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While he doesn’t have the energy of someone like Manuel Ugarte, his know-how and defensive positioning is so much better, which helps him in the middle.
If there is no major midfield signing before the transfer deadline, it is likely that Casemiro plays a lot of football in what looks to be his final season at United.
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