Ruben Amorim has broken his silence on a major call that he made around Casemiro in Manchester United’s 1-0 Premier League win against Newcastle at Old Trafford.
Casemiro made his immediate return to the Manchester United starting XI on Friday evening after the 33-year-old Brazilian midfielder served his one-match suspension.
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The former Real Madrid ace missed United’s 2-1 Premier League defeat to Aston Villa at Villa Park last week after meeting the threshold for accumulated bookings.
Casemiro was partnered alongside Manuel Ugarte for the start of United’s clash with Newcastle, with Bruno Fernandes missing the Premier League tie due to an injury.
The Red Devils midfielder only played 60 minutes of the Boxing Day fixture before Ruben Amorim hooked Casemiro off and replaced him with defender Leny Yoro.
Ruben Amorim speaks out on taking Man Utd midfielder Casemiro off in the Newcastle match at Old Trafford
Casemiro looked bewildered in Manchester United’s match after the Brazil international was forced to make way when the Red Devils were leading.
The Brazil captain was not the only player to leave the pitch at the time, with Benjamin Sesko being switched out for Joshua Zirkzee in the Newcastle match.
Earlier in United’s 1-0 win over Newcastle, Amorim took a cautious decision to withdraw Mason Mount and replaced him with Jack Fletcher after the break.
The 40-year-old United manager insisted that Manuel Ugarte remained on the pitch ahead of Casemiro due to the dynamic that he could offer alongside Jack Fletcher.
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“No, it’s not. This is the most important game,” Amorim said at his post-match press conference, as per Manchester United’s official website.
“In that moment, I don’t want to take [Matheus] Cunha [off] because I felt that he was the only guy [who] can allow us to breathe, and I put him as a No 10.
“Jack [Fletcher] was fresh [to] continue. Manu [Ugarte] was fresher than Casemiro.
“We took a chance because they were making a lot of corner runs, and I felt that he was going to struggle in that moment.”
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Ruben Amorim touches on Jack Fletcher’s second-half cameo for Man Utd against Newcastle
Jack Fletcher made his United first-team debut under Amorim after he came off the bench in the second half of the Red Devils’ 2-1 Premier League defeat to Aston Villa.
Amorim provided an update on Mason Mount after the Newcastle match, following the United manager turning to Fletcher for a lengthy second-half cameo appearance.
The former Sporting CP head coach talked up the 18-year-old United youth academy product, who is the son of Red Devils cult hero Darren Fletcher, in a major way.
Ruben Amorim’s instant update on the Mason Mount tactical change in Man Utd’s 1-0 win vs Newcastle 🗣️🎙️
Mason Mount wanted to play, but Ruben Amorim didn’t want to take the risk. 👀 Who do YOU agree with on this occasion? Mount or Amorim? 🤔
“It’s very important for any kid. He is going to hear from his father already,” Amorim said after the match, as per Manchester United’s official website.
“I know Darren is going to talk a lot of things, but he needs to back up, to calm down and just praise the kid because he’s really humble.
“He works really hard and deserves this.”
United will return to Old Trafford on Tuesday evening and the Red Devils will face Premier League side Wolves in their final fixture of 2025.
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