Erik ten Hag explains Casemiro stance, and it makes perfect sense

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Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag has explained why he did not select Casemiro to start against Manchester City.

Casemiro began the game on the bench with Scott McTominay preferred. This has been a bit of a regular theme for the star since his £60 million move from Real Madrid.

Ten Hag explains Casemiro stance

Ten Hag spoke after the game to The Athletic and explained that he was simply reluctant to change a winning team, with McTominay key in victories over Liverpool and Arsenal in particular.

Ten Hag is insistent Casemiro will have a big role, and his stance is an understandable one. Scott McTominay had earned his starting spot.

McTominay had been vastly improved over the past few weeks, and taking him out of the side for Casemiro could have risked upsetting a winning team.

United’s defeat means it is probably time to make the change now, with this 6-3 loss a catalyst for United’s continued evolution under Ten Hag.

Nonetheless, amid his explanation, Ten Hag’s decision to leave Casemiro out came in for criticism from BBC Sport’s Phil McNulty.

He wrote in his match report: “Casemiro, well versed in these elite games, was kept on the bench. This was surely the sort of contest Manchester United had in mind when they paid £70m to take this midfielder of vast experience and great success from Real Madrid?”

Of course using an inflated fee for emphasis, (BBC report a fee could go ‘up to’ £70 million), Ten Hag’s explanation clarifies why this particular match was not one he chose to start the Brazilian. And it’s all very easy with hindsight too.

McTominay also had the benefit of being rested entirely this past week, missing Scotland’s midweek game, while Casemiro started in midweek for Brazil.

There is plenty of time for Casemiro, and nobody doubts that the defensive midfielder will be a regular starter for United. But throwing him into the derby could have done more harm than good, despite his experience.

Over the next few weeks he should begin to cement himself as a regular starter – but as Ten Hag points out, he must earn it, and it must be a ‘natural’ shift for the team.