Brazil manager Carlo Ancelotti has made a ‘crazy’ claim about Manchester United midfielder Casemiro, and the Reds should copy his stance.
Manchester United have not had the best start to the new campaign, with just one win out of their opening four games.
But in the Premier League, it has felt like the Reds are showing improvements. In the end, Ruben Amorim will need the results to match.
With the international break currently occurring, several United players have went out to play with their national teams, including Casemiro at Brazil.
The midfielder started as Carlo Ancelotti’s side won 3-0 against Chile, and the ex-Real Madrid manager has spoken about the United star this week.
Ancelotti makes ‘crazy’ claim about Casemiro
Casemiro was allowed to leave Brazil’s camp early ahead of their second game against Bolivia as he is suspended.
When asked about replacing the defensive midfielder, the 66-year-old explained how it is ‘impossible’ to bring in another midfielder with Casemiro’s characteristics.
Instead, he explained how he can put another kind of player in that position and adjust, naming several creative players rather than defensive ones.
“Looking for a midfielder with Casemiro’s characteristics is impossible,” Ancelotti told reporters, as quoted by Trivela.
“There’s no other Brazilian player who has the same characteristics as Casemiro. But we have other players who can play in that position with different characteristics. It could be Andrey Santos, it could be Bruno.
“I also think that with different characteristics, because I’m not crazy, Paquetá can also play as a holding midfielder because he has the skill and technical characteristics to build play from the back.”
United should copy Ancelotti’s stance
United currently have Casemiro playing alongside Bruno Fernandes in the midfield at Old Trafford but if the Brazilian does not play, then Manuel Ugarte will usually come into the side.
Amorim seems like he wants to keep the partnership in midfield quite specific, but Ancelotti’s comments suggest that you don’t always need a direct replacement for a player.
United should look to change that midfield dynamic more often when Casemiro is not in the team or coming off midway through a game.
Of course, Kobbie Mainoo is the obvious answer as to who can play that role and offer something different. It remains to be seen whether that kind of change will be tested further.
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