Pundit hits out after what he’s seen from Casemiro at Man United – ‘you’ve got to be kidding me’
Noel Whelan has insisted leaving Casemiro on the bench against Man City was a “massive mistake” from Man United manager Erik ten Hag.
The former Leeds striker, speaking exclusively to Football Insider, claimed there is no “out-and-out defensive midfield player” among the Red Devils’ other midfield options.
Casemiro, 30, played 31 minutes as Man United fell to a 6-3 loss against rivals Man City on Sunday (2 October).
The Brazil international, who cost a reported £70million in the summer window, is yet to start in the Premier League.
Scott McTominay and Christian Eriksen have been preferred in the heart of the Man United midfield.
Whelan insisted Casemiro is needed to do the “horrible side” of the game and would have been “perfect” from the start against Man City.
He told Football Insider’s Ewan Kingsbury: “Is this why you’ve bought a player like Casemiro?
“To sit on the bench in a big game like that? You’ve got to be kidding me.
“He’s a player who always rises to big occasions. Him up against Gundogan or De Bruyne would have been much better than McTominay.
“I think they needed Casemiro when they bought him in. There’s no out-and-out defensive midfield player in that squad right now.
“McTominay isn’t a natural, Eriksen likes to get forward, Fernandes likes to get forward.
“If you’re going to play this system, you need someone who is going to sit and do the horrible side of the game.
“They’ve got none of that right now.
“There’s no balance in that midfield, but if you put Casemiro in – he can protect the defence and do the hard work for his team.
“I wanted to see him in there. He would’ve been perfect in that game, Ten Hag knew they weren’t going to have the possession and it’s a massive mistake from him.”
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