Casemiro was replaced by Erik ten Hag at the half as Manchester United lost to Liverpool.
Erik ten Hag discussed Casemiro’s dismal performance against Liverpool. (Image: Viaplay.)
The manager of Manchester United, Erik ten Hag, delivered a brutally honest assessment of his midfielder’s performance in their 3-0 loss to Liverpool, saying that the “team needed” Casemiro to be brought off at halftime.
Ten Hag responded, “It is what the team needed,” when questioned about benching Casemiro on Sky Sports. “You have to take more chances and play more openly when you are behind Liverpool 2-0. You have to take greater chances while you’re losing. I must express my gratitude to the crew. You must persevere in battling and being unified.”
Despite Casemiro’s poor performance, United legend Gary Neville cautioned that Ten Hag may suffer “repercussions” for sending a veteran player off so early in their crushing defeat. However, the Dutch head coach has stated that there are no problems between manager and player.
Ten Hag clarified, “You know the game and he knows the game.” “He and I shall both continue. He is a superb athlete. This season, we’ll keep working to develop the players and the team.”
After Toby Collyer, a young player, was put in the firing line in favour of Manuel Ugarte, who arrived from Paris Saint-Germain for £51 million, Casemiro will be worried about his future at United.
Ten Hag, though, thinks the former Real Madrid player is capable of reaching his peak again: “He has grown and proven time and time again that he is a wonderful person. He has shown us all terrific moments and decisiveness in the midfield. He’ll demonstrate that once more and recover.”
On social media, there were rumours that Casemiro departed Old Trafford at halftime as a potentially damaging reaction after his cruel substitution.
Ten Hag did, however, affirm that following the game, the Brazilian was in the locker room with the rest of the team. He stated to talkSPORT, “That is untrue. He was within the changing area. I recently got to know him.”
Ten Hag claimed that there were still good things about the match, even though Liverpool had given them another crushing defeat. “You can see the xG (expected goals) we didn’t concede as many goals (as the 7-1 defeat last year),” the manager commented.
“I don’t believe our patterns are the same. There were moments when it was risky and frank. But following a 3-0 loss to Liverpool, I don’t want to discuss this. Bravo, Liverpool. We must accept it and remain modest.
