Author: Barkha Roy
In Manchester United’s victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers, commentators Gary Neville and Jamie Carragher analyzed the performance of midfielder Casemiro. The Brazilian faced a challenging game against Wolves, which led Neville to describe him as “shattered” and highlight the team’s difficult midfield presence.
United managed a narrow 1-0 victory, with Raphael Varane’s goal securing the three points
. However, the team’s midfield lacked control, with Sky Sports pundits attributing much of the problem to Casemiro’s display. Neville even floated the idea of Fiorentina’s Sofyan Amrabat teaming up with the former Real Madrid player, potentially strengthening the midfield.
Addressing the situation, Neville commented on coach Erik ten Hag’s approach: “He won’t go back to the Fred-McTominay style of midfield because they can’t play the ball properly. He wants everyone on that pitch to play the ball his way.“
He also suggested that Casemiro could benefit from Amrabat’s presence, offering additional support in midfield. Neville’s assessment of Casemiro’s performance emphasized the vulnerabilities exposed during the match against Wolves. He noted: “The team was destroyed by Wolves”.
Casemiro’s positioning left spaces in front of United’s defensive line, which were exploited by the opposition. In addition to his challenges, former Chelsea player Mason Mount had a below-par debut performance.
Jamie Carragher shared his perspective when analyzing the replay of an incident involving Casemiro: “Casemiro was really exposed tonight. Really exposed, it was very easy for Wolves to exploit the space behind.”
Comparing Casemiro’s situation with Fabinho’s, Carragher noted the potential for future vulnerabilities on the Premier League’s expansive pitches. Carragher expressed concern that the Brazilian midfielder might find himself in a difficult position due to his style of play.
Looking ahead, Manchester United face a demanding test against resurgent Tottenham. Ten Hag may try to secure more signings before this match to strengthen the team’s capabilities.
Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher added to the assessment, sharing his intuition about Casemiro’s possible difficulties in the upcoming 2023-24 season. He predicted that the Brazilian midfielder could end up being “exposed”, referring to the challenging Premier League scenario.
Although Casemiro showed his passing skills, completing some important passes and contributing offensively, his difficulties in duels on the ground and retaining possession were evident. As a key figure since his arrival at Manchester United, with seven goals and six assists in 53 appearances, Carragher’s prediction will be closely monitored by soccer enthusiasts.