Erik Ten Hag Sets the Record Straight on Casemiro Rumours After Clip Goes Viral Following Liverpool Defeat
Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag has come out in defense of Casemiro, who was substituted at half-time during the Red Devils’ 3-0 defeat to Liverpool at Old Trafford on Sunday.
The Brazilian midfielder had a poor game, giving the ball away for both of Luis Diaz’s first-half strikes. He was subsequently replaced by 20-year-old Toby Collyer, who was the only signing made by Ralf Rangnick during his spell at the club.
Speaking after the game, Ten Hag revealed why he made the decision to take Casemiro off so early. "I met him after the game in the dressing room," he said. "Why I subbed him was because we are 2-0 down and against an opponent like Liverpool with their qualities, we have to take risk because we want to come back."
Casemiro will undoubtedly go down as one of the greats for his time in Madrid, but he hasn’t been at the level expected for a considerable time now. However, Ten Hag still believes the 32-year-old has a part to play. "Casemiro has shown so often that he is a great character," Ten Hag told Viaplay. "We all have seen great moments from him. He will show that again and will bounce back. He won everything in his career you can imagine. He will keep contributing to our team. He is always winning."
Ten Hag wasn’t the only one who came out in support of Casemiro, with his wife taking to Instagram to hit back at online trolls. Anna Mariana Casemiro posted a photo on her Instagram Story showcasing her husband’s impressive trophy cabinet at home following the match. The picture featured five replicas of the Champions League trophy Casemiro won with Real Madrid between 2014-2022.
It’s clear that Ten Hag is backing his player, and it’s hard to argue with his logic. Casemiro has been a world-class player for many years, and he still has a lot to offer. However, it’s also clear that he’s not the same player he was a few years ago, and United need to find a way to get the best out of him.
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