Ten Hag was wrong about Casemiro

There are players whose absence says more than their presence. Casemiro is one of them.

At 34, once considered a fading legacy of the old era, Casemiro has now become the lifeline in Ruben Amorim's Manchester United machine - a bitter paradox, but also a testament to the power of experience and perseverance.

When the champion is left out

During Erik ten Hag’s time, Casemiro was a symbol of what went wrong for United in the transfer market: a signing who was “too old, too expensive, too slow”. His disastrous performance in the 0-3 defeat to Liverpool – where he was at fault for two goals and was substituted at half-time – marked the beginning of a long slide.

When Ruben Amorim arrived, he did not hesitate to put Casemiro at the bottom of the list, even behind Toby Collyer - the young player who is currently only a reserve at West Brom in the Championship.

A five-time Champions League winner being pushed down behind a youngster who is not yet 21 years old - that is the height of humiliation. Casemiro, who once stood at the top of Europe with Real Madrid, who once “sniffed” danger like a predator in the midfield, is now seen as a burden. But for true warriors, it is not the end, but a challenge.

Casemiro quietly started over. He didn’t complain, he didn’t post on social media, he didn’t blame the coach or the tactics. Casemiro did the only thing that veterans know best: work and wait for his chance. And when his chance came – Amorim was forced to rotate during a tense run of games – Casemiro stepped out onto the pitch and reminded everyone who he was.

Casemiro is too important for Manchester United.

Last weekend, the Bernabeu was gone, but the Stretford End rang with cries of “Casemiro!” - something that seemed unlikely to happen. Manchester United beat Brighton 4-2, but what was more remarkable was the moment Amorim took Casemiro off. Just a few minutes later, the game collapsed.

From a 3-0 lead and complete control, Manchester United suddenly panicked, lost control of the midfield and let the opponent score two goals. The Portuguese coach had to send Manuel Ugarte into the field to "patch" the midfield, but order was only partially restored.

It was a story that repeated itself throughout October: when Casemiro was on the pitch, Manchester United were a team of organisation, balance and character. When he was off the pitch, they were vulnerable.

The statistics simply confirm what the eye can see: Manchester United have not conceded a goal with Casemiro since August; they have conceded just three goals in 463 minutes with him, but 13 in 437 minutes without him. A goal every 154 minutes, compared to one every 33 minutes – the gulf between a solid defence and a fragile team.

Ruben Amorim wants to build a dynamic, high-pressing, quick-transitioning Manchester United - the kind of modern football he once blazed at Sporting Lisbon. But within that structure, midfield is a conundrum.

Bruno Fernandes plays high, almost like a number 10; Mainoo is lost, lacking a sense of position; and Ugarte is strong in intensity but weak in the ability to keep the rhythm and escape pressing. Amorim only has one player who can both read the situation and know how to "slow down" the game at the right time: Casemiro.

Casemiro is reviving his form.

The problem is that the 34-year-old former Real Madrid man cannot run 90 minutes in a system that demands relentless pressing. Amorim knows this, and Casemiro has not completed a full game this season. But the truth is even more bitter: the more Manchester United try to offload him, the more they show their dependence. Every time Casemiro leaves the pitch, the machine loses gear.

During Ten Hag's time, people used to say, "Manchester United can't play without Casemiro." Now, they have to admit, "Manchester United can't win without Casemiro."

Casemiro - the old but irreplaceable midfield pivot

Casemiro is no longer the devastating version that once sowed fear in Real Madrid. He no longer has the speed to cover the entire width of the pitch, nor the physical strength of his former self. But Casemiro still retains what makes every coach crave: the ability to position himself, read the game and dictate the tempo. He knows when to commit tactical fouls, when to keep the ball, when to push the team forward. For a team in the process of rebuilding, Casemiro’s composure is fundamental.

Casemiro's revival is also a testament to Amorim's man management philosophy.

Casemiro’s revival is also a testament to Amorim’s philosophy of managing people. He does not put blind faith in reputation, but he does not close the door to anyone either. Casemiro wins respect not by words, but by actions – in the style of those who conquered Europe: silently, but make everyone listen.

Of course, such heavy reliance on a 34-year-old is a worrying sign. The Red Devils have depth at No. 10 and centre-back, but their midfield is woefully thin. They didn't sign a midfielder in the summer - instead investing in attack.

Amorim knows it will be a big risk given the tight schedule: three games in a week next month, then four in just 12 days after Christmas. Will Casemiro be fit enough to cope?

In fact, Casemiro is still relying more on football intelligence than brawn. Amorim uses him as a deep-lying conductor – someone who “reads” all 22 players on the pitch and makes split-second decisions. Whenever Manchester United defend, Casemiro doesn’t just clear the ball, he directs the entire formation, forcing the opposition into a stalemate. No one else on the team can do that.

A year ago, Casemiro was seen as a relic of a bygone era. Now he is at the heart of a rebirth. From being an outcast, he has become the cornerstone of Amorim’s rebuilding of Manchester United’s identity – a team that fights, endures and wins ugly when necessary.

His peak may have passed, but Casemiro is living the final chapter of his career like a champion: no complaining, no boasting, just proving his worth by his presence.

In football, there are players who win games, and there are those who keep them going. Casemiro falls into the latter category - the one who, when he leaves the pitch, makes Manchester United surprisingly vulnerable.

He went from shame to irreplaceable. And that is the journey of the truly great - those who never need anyone's recognition, because football chose them.

Source: https://znews.vn/ten-hag-da-sai-ve-casemiro-post1597306.html