Casemiro says he is happy at Manchester United and blames injuries for his loss of form | OneFootball

From arguably being the signing of last season, Casemiro’s stock has fallen so dramatically this campaign that new co-owners INEOS have placed him atop the list of players that they intend to move on in the upcoming window.

With Erik ten Hag changing the team’s style to that of a high-transition chaos ball, the Brazilian has struggled to cover the gaping hole left in the middle of the pitch on his own.

The five-time Champions League winner has struggled to track back and has often been spotted sliding into unnecessary challenges in a bid to avoid having to do his duty.

But the manager has always backed the former Real Madrid superstar and claimed that if not for injuries, he would have been the same force he was last season.

Casemiro’s sophomore struggles

And now the defensive midfielder, who has faced the brunt of the criticism in recent weeks, has claimed that he accepts his form has dipped but blamed injuries for the drop-off.

He also claimed that he welcomes constructive criticism but revealed that it has gone overboard at times from certain sections and that the team’s problems cannot be blamed on a single individual.

Like his manager, the Brazil international also feels that the more than 60 separate injury cases this season has robbed the entire team of continuity and that is the single-biggest reason behind the team’s downfall.

When asked about he had felt about all these recent attacks, the player said, “It’s hard, especially when it’s not an analysis of the whole situation,” he told Sky Sports.

“At the start of the season, at the start of my season, I got the trophy of best player of the month, elected by the fans here. Right after that I picked up an injury, a big injury. Came back, then the injury returned, now playing as a centre-back. It is hard – this is a wider analysis, I’m giving you more ample analysis.

“Injured players. I think never at any point of the season the manager had like 25 senior players available. So not only for me, for the players, but also for the manager it’s very challenging. For the club it’s very challenging.

Criticism has been intense and not always on the mark

“But criticism is a part of football. And I’m always very calm, especially with the criticism. When it’s constructive criticism, it’s always welcomed. Especially in football, when you’ve been playing high level for 10 years and you drop your level a little, the criticism is going to come, criticism is always going to come.”

Playing as a centre-back has not helped Casemiro’s fortunes and it can be argued that it is not his natural position and he has only played there as a stop-gap in extreme circumstances in his previous clubs.

Critics have asked the manager to drop him but Ten Hag has kept faith despite major mistakes in games against Crystal Palace and Arsenal. As for the former Sao Paulo star, he is ready to play wherever the manager needs him and that has been appreciated by his manager as well.

“The manager came to ask me and I told him I’m always available. That’s the way I am, my style, trying to help, committing to the team and to the coaching staff. So, when he asked me, I didn’t even hesitate. I wanted to help and made myself available.

“Of course, he knows it himself, and anyone who understands a bit more, it is not my position, not my natural place to play. I’m playing a different role because we have a lot of injured players.

“But as I said, it’s been a season of a lot of sacrifices for all of us, with the injuries and players adapting. So, it’s been very hard for us.”

Age is just a number

The desire to help the team is appreciable but the lack of quality is concerning despite central defence being unfamiliar territory. For such an experienced star, certain basic mistakes cannot be glossed over.

And that is why INEOS are keen on moving him on in the summer. He is among the highest earners at the club and has lost a yard of pace which makes him unsuitable for the team moving forward.

Saudi clubs are eyeing a deal but the 32-year-old feels age is just a number and that he has a lot more to offer and is happy at United. And with the FA Cup final coming up, he wants to end the season on a high to prove that both the club and him have a bright future.

“I feel very well, very well. I’m really well, I feel healthy, with energy and the same mentality I always had. I guess people end up talking about the age factor, but it’s been proven.

Recently, our friend Thiago Silva, at the age of 39 coming here and showing that, yes, you can play. The previous Ballon d’Or winners were over 34.

“These are people who analyse football well, who see what’s happening, who know what’s happening, analysing not the age. But I’m well, I’m happy, living every day I get to play here.

End the season well

“As I usually say, Manchester United gave me what I wanted. This joy of being able to enjoy the game, enjoy the Premier League. So, I’m happy to be here at Manchester United and enjoying the game.

“The club is in a period of adaptation and this year, we’ve had a very tough season. There’s so many things we can discuss, even with the new owners coming, the transition of who’s taking over the club, who isn’t, so many things.

“But always, when you talk about Manchester United, you talk of titles, of the biggest club in England, for its history. So, when you have the chance of playing for a trophy as important as the FA Cup, and we know how big it is here in England, we have to enjoy it and want to win it.”

For now, the club needs to focus on the job at hand and try and ensure a happy ending to a dismal campaign. Then INEOS can focus on moving players on and that includes Casemiro.

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