Manchester United fans may hold their breath when they see Casemiro moving towards an on-pitch brawl, but the rock solid Brazilian may have become a changed man under Ten Hag
Manchester United fans struggled to contain themselves when they saw Casemiro’s reserved reaction to the 15 man fracas against Barcelona.
Erik ten Hag’s side came from behind to secure an unforgettable 2-1 home victory over the Catalans at Old Trafford and book themselves a place in the Europa League Round of 16. The fiercely contested contest completely boiled over when Bruno Fernandes incited a 15 man scuffle by booting the ball at Frenkie de Jong while the Dutchman was on the floor.
As a flurry of red and gold shirts came together in a classic pushing contest in the middle of the pitch, United fans squinted their eyes to see if Casemiro was in and amongst the action. However, the ex-Real Madrid star appeared to learn his lesson, choosing not to engage in the melee.
At the start of the month, the no-nonsense Brazilian got himself needlessly sent off in United’s 2-1 home victory over Crystal Palace. After a similar fracas began in the match, Casemiro was one of the first to leap into the middle of the melee.
However, he got very lost in the moment, grabbing Palace midfielder Will Hughes by the neck and getting himself a straight red card. Four matches later, Casemiro appeared to be a changed man, opting to awkwardly stand away from the high-tempered scenes in the middle of the pitch rather than hurl himself into the middle like it was a mosh pit.
“Casemiro didn’t want that smoke again,” one fan laughed on social media. “This is my favourite picture in the whole world,” another United fan replied. “Sit this one out Case, we need you,” another added, referencing the time he got himself sent off in the Premier League. One other passionate United fan concurred, tweeting “Good lad! Stay away from trouble, just in case!”
“I laughed so hard when I saw him,” one other supporter tweeted, before another wrote “I was legit looking for him and begging him not to fight until they showed the scene again.”
Casemiro has been indispensable for the Red Devils ever since his big money move from Real Madrid. He has brought calm, stability, experience, and, when it is used correctly, bite and aggression to the United midfield.
It is no coincidence United’s challenge on four fronts began to intensify when he adapted to life on
the red side of Manchester. Against the side he enjoyed so many fierce clashes with when he played for Real Madrid, Casemiro was a protective barrier.
His last ditch tackle and block on Robert Lewandowski in the closing stages of the first half saved United from the misery of heading down the tunnel 2-0 down. Had he not been in the right place at the right time, United would have likely been sent crashing out of the competition.
SOURCE: dailystar.co.uk
