Casemiro stood on the touchline, staring up at the top of the match as Manchester City raised the Community Shield in the directors’ box at Wembley, one hand around his waist and the other around his chin. His expression and body language provided strong evidence that this battle was not just another preseason game.
As he looked up at City’s players picking up yet another piece of silverware, Casemiro was a picture of agony, almost to the point of rage.
During the penalty shootout, he was irritated and gave counsel to Matheus Nunes and Ruben Dias as they went up. He signaled to Andre Onana to dive to his right for Nunes from the center circle, and he celebrated too soon when it appeared that United’s goalkeeper would briefly reach out and grab the ball with one of his large hands.
Dias moved toward the location, while Casemiro and Bruno Fernandes, the Portuguese player for City, indicated that Onana should stay put by putting their palms down to the ground. However, Dias moved the ball to the opposite side as Onana dove. Frustrated, Casemiro, Fernandes, and Lisandro Martinez wheeled away, pleading with bench staff.
This is not to say that they were correct and Onana was incorrect; on the contrary, it did imply that Casemiro, in his opinion, still has it in him to win English football after he produced a fantastic save to save Bernardo Silva’s penalty and assist United defeat Arsenal in a friendly shootout in Los Angeles.
Casemiro offered flashes of his quality at Wembley (Crystal Pix/MB Media/Getty Images)
All of it presented a very different picture than when Casemiro visited Wembley the last time. After Manchester United defeated City in the FA Cup, he gave Erik ten Hag a quick hug in May of that year while confetti was strewn all over the field.
In light of the larger picture, it did not seem likely that the manager and player would still be with the team at the start of the new season. Ten Hag started Sofyan Amrabat in midfield and moved Casemiro to the bench. After turning in the team sheets, Casemiro announced that he would not be able to substitute because of the severity of the hamstring strain he had been dealing with during training that week.
The timing, according to several club insiders, was quite peculiar, especially considering Casemiro’s prior declarations that he preferred Zinedine Zidane and Carlo Ancelotti as managers. On the same day that Casemiro insisted the injury was real, United sources confirmed as much. But the stakes were so high that his absence had long-lasting effects, like a major fracture.
However, Casemiro’s discussions about leaving for Saudi Arabia have come to nothing, and Ten Hag has adopted a practical stance since receiving his pardon.
Casemiro broods after the game (Laurie Whitwell/The Athletic)
Ten Hag appears to be heavily relying on the veteran Brazilian player for this campaign. In fact, Casemiro played the whole 90 minutes at Wembley after starting the entire match against Liverpool on Saturday.
He developed into the game, making significant contributions, and went on to convert United’s fifth penalty kick, which, had Jadon Sancho scored, would have won the match. After Sancho missed, he moved forward to comfort him; teammates praised his leadership throughout his debut season with the squad. Fernandes led the team, thus it was a mistake for him to be labeled as captain again on the squad sheets here even since he wore the armband versus Liverpool in South Carolina.
What is it about Casemiro and team sheets at Wembley?
Casemiro was listed as captain on the team sheet (Mark Leech/Offside/Offside via Getty Images)
Whatever the intrigue leading up to the game, he made an authoritative display.
James McAtee attempted a slide challenge that usually ended with him nowhere near the target, but on the half-hour mark, Casemiro assisted in crowding out City in midfield to launch an attack. The tide shifted in United’s favor when Ten Hag applauded.
As with the U.S. trip, Casemiro started to play a significant role higher up the pitch. He and Amad Diallo exchanged a one-two that should have seen the winger shoot instead of hopelessly passing to Mason Mount. Additionally, he contributed to the opportunity that Marcus Rashford bent wide by combining with Fernandes and whipping Rashford a pass after Mount deflected Kobbie Mainoo’s touch off Fernandes’ toe. At the center of the complex play was Casemiro.
In the second half he sent a pass into midfield to Mount, who drew a foul from Dias to alleviate pressure. Then Casemiro showed he can stay on his feet, stopping Jeremy Doku in the box by planting his two legs in his way.
When in possession, Casemiro served as the outlet, assisting Fernandes twice to free Alejandro Garnacho. Having just halted Oscar Bobb as he was winding up a dribble into the box, he attempted to score himself with the outside of his boot, albeit a little overhit.
Late in the game, Casemiro even sprang into an incredible slide tackle on Nunes outside the box, demonstrating occasionally that his favored method of stopping an opponent can effective.
The Brazilian may still have something to offer at Old Trafford (Chris Brunskill/Fantasista/Getty Images)
Ten Hag later denied that Casemiro had benefited from the 4-2-4 method, emphasizing instead a preseason devoid of Brazil action. When Casemiro returned to Carrington last summer, he had to work on his fitness. “He is incredibly fit right now since this is the first pre-season he has had in a long time,” Ten Hag remarked. “I believe that we did a great job working as a team, which makes things easier for Casemiro. He is also an excellent football player.
“You can bring his skills in and then you see his importance to the game for our team.”
Casemiro is 32 years old and has a good salary, but because the team did not make it to the Champions League, his pay drops to less than £300,000. Despite this, United would have been willing to sell Casemiro this transfer window. His contract is for two more years, with an optional additional.
However, since there are no suitors present, Casemiro can refute Jamie Carragher’s claim that his career in elite football was gone following Casemiro’s performance in the 4-0 loss at Crystal Palace.
On a possible departure, Ten Hag said: “I don’t have any idea or signal if not. We are very happy with him.”
(Top photo: Michael Regan – The FA/The FA via Getty Images)
