Manchester United: Casemiro takes a heavy toll!

Casemiro lived through hell this Sunday in the Theatre of Dreams. Lined up in midfield for the shock of the third day of the Premier League against Liverpool (0-3), the former Real Madrid midfielder completely missed his subject. Guilty of two ball losses which offered two goals to Luis Diaz during the first half, the Brazilian was finally replaced at half-time by Erik ten Hag. Coming out with his head down after 45 indigestible minutes (14 balls lost, 3 small duels won), the 32-year-old player was even seen leaving the Red Devils’ enclosure alone.

Questioned after the match, the Manchester United coach, however, wanted to clarify things. “I saw Casemiro after the game in the dressing room, so he didn’t leave the stadium at half-time. I replaced him because we were 2-0 down against an opponent like Liverpool, with their quality. They are very good. I knew we had to take risks to bounce back and that we needed players who could cover ground in midfield. That’s why we brought on Toby Collyer.”. A clarification which did not however prevent the English press from falling on the 1m85 right-hander, like Gary Neville and Jamie Carragher, consultants for Sky Sports.

Casemiro in the middle of a storm!

“Casemiro, for a player with such experience who has won Champions Leagues with Real Madrid, the number of times he gives the ball away in the wrong areas, it’s not possible. He has no pressure on him and he misses that first pass. Liverpool have made mistakes in that area. A bad pass can happen at any time, but on the second one, when he gets knocked down, he looks broken when he falls. I have to say he has lost a little confidence in himself.”Neville confided in this regard. “Two mistakes from Casemiro, two goals from Diaz”added Carragher. Pointed out by observers, criticized by supporters and humiliated on social networks, the Auriverde international (75 caps, 7 goals) will, despite everything, be able to take comfort in the support of his wife.

On Instagram, Anna Mariana Casemiro, the partner of the São José dos Campos native, has indeed broken her silence to respond to the criticism her husband has received, by sharing a photo of all the trophies he has won throughout his career. Enough to calm the anger of the Manchester fans? Nothing is less certain… Already under pressure, especially after the recent arrival of Manuel Ugarte – still too physically weak to start a match – Casemiro will quickly have to wake up, at the risk of losing his place in the coming weeks. For Manchester United, the 2024-2025 season starts, in any case, in pain, with already two defeats that relegate Erik ten Hag’s team to 14th place. Enough to put the Dutch coach in a delicate position, but also certain key players, like Casemiro.