Casemiro also believes that no one player can alter the course of the game, as he believes everyone must contribute in attack and defence.
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Manchester United ended the recently-concluded season on a positive note, which has earned them a return to Champions League football. On the back of registering a disappointing 2021-22 campaign, United started a new project under Erik ten Hag. After overcoming early season wobbles, the Red Devils started to give a good account for themselves. Man United ended the term with a trophy in EFL Cup and followed it up by reaching the FA Cup final.
However, the biggest of the lot was finishing in the top four places of the Premier League table. The third-place finish has ensured a return to Champions League following a year’s break from the competition. There are many reasons behind Manchester United’s change in fortunes this time around, however, one of the most important ones is the arrival of Casemiro. The Brazilian midfielder used to sit in front of the defence and guarded the backline splendidly. However, Casemiro does not want to take all the credit for himself.
“At the end of the day, we’re here to try and win the ball back. I think we’re always in and around defensive areas, and always aiming to help out our centre-backs and also David [De Gea] too, to try to prevent the ball getting through to him. But I’m fortunate too that my team-mates help me out and that I always get a hand from the other lads. It’s impossible to defend by yourself, so I can always count on help from our defenders,” he was quoted as saying by the club’s website.
Casemiro also believes that no one player can alter the course of the game, as he believes everyone must contribute in attack and defence. “In Brazil, we always say that your first line of defence is your number nine, or your striker. In modern football, you defend with all 11 players, and you attack with all 11 too. That is how football is nowadays. It’s just impossible to defend or attack all by yourself. So, I always have to help out the other lads both in attack and also in defence,” he added.
In his first season at Manchester United, Casemiro has found the back of the net seven times. Speaking about it, he said, “I reckon it’s now the third season in my career where I’ve managed to score seven goals. I get the odd goal now and again but, of course, I’m not what you’d call a genuine goal scorer! Everyone likes to get on the scoresheet but a favourite phrase of mine is always that my ball-winning tackles are my goals.”
“That’s what I really like doing and that’s when I’m at my happiest. When I’m winning the ball back, helping out my team-mates, getting my team-mates playing and moving the ball better, closing down space and then ensuring that we bring the ball out from the back with quality. They are really my duties but, sure, everyone likes to score and create assists. We all like to but, in reality, my job and what I do on the pitch is something quite different, everybody knows that!”
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