There were a few raised eyebrows when Casemiro was named in the starting line-up for Manchester United against Sheriff Tiraspol.
Surely the midfielder was too important for this fixture and should have been saved for the weekend’s fixture against West Ham?
Well right now manager Erik ten Hag considers Casemiro is simply too important to be rested for any match, and wants to start him in every single match.
Casemiro has made a big impact for United since signing for the club from Real Madrid, and he has the approval of club legend Bryan Robson.
Robson praises Casemiro
Robson spoke to BT Sport prior to kick-off against Sheriff Tiraspol and highlighted the Brazilian’s passing ability as the trait which has stood out for him.
He said: “He gets the ball and he turns things forward really quickly. He concentrates on his passing.
“Sometimes a lot of midfielders don’t, and give the ball away too cheaply. He doesn’t do that.”
As the player tasked with winning the ball back, Casemiro knows the value of keeping it. This could be the reason for why he takes such care with his passing.
When Casemiro signed for United in the summer, his defensive traits were the ones we were all expecting to be raving about most.
And while he has been excellent at breaking up play, shielding the defence and making tackles, the quality he brings in the final third of the pitch has been a real welcome surprise in addition to everything else.
In a Real Madrid side with two of the best passing midfielders of their generation, Toni Kroos and Luka Modric, Casemiro’s qualities in this role were both under-used and over shadowed.
Erik ten Hag is using him a little more freely, and his passing has already directly led to one goal, Cristiano Ronaldo’s winner at Goodison Park against Everton.
An impressive pass with the outside of his foot against Newcastle almost set Marcus Rashford up for a winner too, only for the forward to miss the target.
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