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Casemiro with the Champions League trophy last May – the fifth he won with Real Madrid. Photograph: Javier Soriano/AFP/Getty Images United are a different team without Casemiro. When he has been in the team, they have conceded 0.91 goals per game in the Premier League; when he has been absent that figure has shot up to 1.5. With an actual plan in place, United have enjoyed a progressive campaign under Ten Hag. The question now is how they build for next season. United would have pushed the button sooner on Casemiro had Ten Hag not hung on as long as he did for De Jong. So long, in fact, that it was only in a big recruitment meeting in the days before the Brentford game that the decision was taken to finally abandon the pursuit of the Barcelona midfielder, park interest in the likes of Adrien Rabiot and land Casemiro. As one goal after another flew in and Manchester United found themselves 4-0 down and humiliated at half-time at Brentford in August, there were more than a few people at the club worried as to whether Casemiro might have second thoughts about joining them.
Casemiro, it turned out, was watching from home in Madrid and began sending messages to his agent saying: “Tell them I’ll fix this”. Of course, your morale drops and it’s boosted when you score six in victory [but] we beat them at home and as I’ve said, each game is completely different but losing in that way is tough for you. But, when you do lose like that, the most important game is the next one which you need to win and get three points from.”It’s a club with great history, I will have to work hard to make a name for myself because there, I have won nothing yet. At Manchester United, first of all, what I want is to transmit the way I feel about the club, my respect.
I want to show my fighting spirit, capacity to work hard and professional attitude. I want to win the league. I am going through one of the best moments of my career. I feel I’m really fit, mentally I feel great, and I want to continue to enjoy. It’s a great moment to take this decision.”The Red Devils will welcome Manuel Pellegrini's men to Old Trafford this Thursday for a last-16 clash, having beaten Barcelona in the play-off round. Casemiro, 30, was instrumental in both legs but could find himself missing an upcoming fixture as United resume their European campaign following Sunday's appalling 7-0 defeat to arch-rivals Liverpool. I’m surprised, I have to be honest,” Peter Schmeichel, the Old Trafford goalkeeping great, said at the time. “Because Casemiro hasn’t been mentioned at all through the window. Also, if you are No 6 for Manchester United, you are supposed to drive and take part in the game. The likes of Casemiro and fellow summer signing Lisandro Martínez have been central to restoring that bond between players and supporters after the disconnect last season. That was probably never better encapsulated than at Stamford Bridge in October when Casemiro’s dramatic 94th minute equaliser sparked wild scenes of celebration. Now 30, the only disappointment for supporters is they have had to wait until this stage of Casemiro’s career to finally see a midfielder of that calibre in a red shirt. The victory he cites over the City juggernaut of Erling Haaland, Kevin De Bruyne and company is January’s 2-1 Premier League return at Old Trafford. The 31-year-old was in the XI then but at the Etihad had been only a 59th-minute substitute , when United were 4-1 behind, Erik ten Hag preferring Scott McTominay in central midfield. United fans had to wait seven weeks for Casemiro to make his first Premier League start as manager Erik ten Hag eased him in gently – and were left screaming out for him as they watched their side get demolished 6-3 at the Etihad Stadium in early October. Suffice to say, Casemiro will be the first name on Ten Hag’s team-sheet when Manchester City visit Old Trafford in the return game on Saturday lunchtime.
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