‘Start of the end’ as Manchester United star is being targeted by opponents, says pundit

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Manchester United midfielder Casemiro is under fire after a more challenging start to the season than expected.

Brazil international captain Casemiro was substituted early by Manchester United at the weekend, in which manager Erik ten Hag seemed to run out of patience.

Ten Hag said he wanted ‘more football’ when he brought Christian Eriksen on for Casemiro, a damning indictment of the Brazilian’s contribution.

The sad aspect was, this has been coming. Nobody placed much stock in Casemiro’s September player of the month award, which saw inconsistent performances glossed over by his goalscoring.

Casemiro compared to Schweinsteiger

Manchester United did feel quite smug last season when Casemiro’s performances saw him compared to Roy Keane, by former teammate Paul Scholes, via The Mail.

But the way it has gone this season, Casemiro has looked a long way from Roy Keane.

Former football Tony Cascarino told The Times that the comparison he would make, is to liken Casemiro to Bastian Schweinsteiger, a player who United signed when he was past his prime.

He said: “It sounds crazy to say about someone with a contract to 2026, but this feels like the start of the end for Casemiro as a first-choice player.

“It reminds me of the situation with Bastian Schweinsteiger.”

Schweinsteiger had tailed off almost from the moment he joined the club. Casemiro has had one good year, but there is a fear his decline has kicked in.

Casemiro being targeted

Cascarino added: “Opponents have cottoned on to the fact his legs have gone, and they are targeting him, encouraging their midfielders to run past him, because they know he can’t get around the pitch quickly enough to recover.”

These words have been backed up by managers after recent defeats for Manchester United.

Roy Hodgson explained how Crystal Palace targeted Casemiro in their victory at Old Trafford, and then Galatasaray manager Ozan Buruk said his side did the same after their win days later.

It is a problem Erik ten Hag has to try and solve, and prove it is not the ‘start of the end’ for Casemiro, but instead just a minor hiccup.