‘7 Duels Won; 6 Tackles’: Man Utd star Casemiro returning to form just in time for the FA Cup final following a strong performance against Brighton.
Manchester United star Casemiro delivered a stand-out performance during the 2-0 Premier League win over Brighton & Hove Albion on Sunday.
The Red Devils ended their top-flight campaign on a high note with a victory at the Amex Stadium.
However, it was not sufficient to secure Conference League football after seventh-placed Newcastle United outclassed Brentford by a 4-2 scoreline.
United now need to beat Manchester City in the FA Cup final to qualify for the Europa League.
Meanwhile, looking at the Brighton game, there were some positives to carry forward. One of those was the impressive showing from Casemiro at the back.
The Brazilian started alongside Lisandro Martinez in central defence against the Seagulls. He had a good outing with 81 touches and a 90 per cent pass accuracy.
Casemiro won seven ground duels and six tackles while making five clearances and blocking as many shots. He made a crucial clearance off the line early in the second half.
Prior to the game, the 32-year-old said that the criticism towards him this season has been ‘disrespectful‘. He provided the perfect response with a stand-out showing for United.
Despite this, we don’t see him starting in the heart of the backline in the FA Cup final on Saturday.
Upon his injured return, Raphael Varane made a brief appearance lasting 28 minutes. At Wembley Stadium, we expect the Frenchman to play alongside Martinez in center defense.
Still, Casemiro ought to start in the starting lineup. He should replace Sofyan Amrabat, who had a subpar performance at Brighton, in his usual number six role.
The persistent intense pressure from the Seagulls made the Moroccan appear out of sorts. If he is included in the Manchester Derby starting lineup, we will be shocked.
