- 8 hours ago
The INSANE statistic that proves Man Utd urgently need a Casemiro replacement
Cameron Smith
- Updated: 19 Feb 2024 10:07 GMT
- 3 min read
Manchester United might not be convincing, but they have now won five consecutive games in all competitions and are unbeaten in 2024.
Erik ten Hag has still not stamped his authority at Old Trafford, with several narrow victories during that spell, but the Dutchman has found a winning formula and has finally provided a platform for Rasmus Hojlund to succeed.
The Denmark international became the youngest player in history to score in six consecutive Premier League matches against Luton Town, breaking Joe Willock’s record, and he is now the most in-form striker in the entire English top flight.
In addition, Andre Onana has quietly impressed, Diogo Dalot has emerged as a solid full-back, Kobbie Mainoo is one of England’s most promising youngsters and Alejandro Garnacho is delivering on his massive potential.
The one main issue, however, remains Casemiro.
The Brazilian was substituted at half-time during the win over Luton after picking up an early yellow card and he was fortunate to still be on the pitch after a challenge on Ross Barkley should have seen him sent off for a second bookable offence.
He has more red cards at Man Utd than during his entire career at Real Madrid and he’s now a liability.
Why Man Utd need a Casemiro replacement
Since returning from injury in late January, Casemiro has received a yellow card in four of his five Man Utd appearances, with his rash tackling becoming a problem.
Furthermore, that record extends to six yellow cards in his last seven appearances for club and country, dating back to October.
Ten Hag simply cannot afford to go down to 10 men in any match as Man Utd look to hunt down fourth place, and Casemiro can’t be trusted in this regard.
In his last four Premier League appearances, Casemiro has been dribbled past a combined 14 times, whereas Mainoo has been dribbled past on seven occasions during the same time period.
His tackle numbers are more impressive than the Englishman’s, but he is too easy to bypass and often looks to bring down opponents as a result.
Casemiro in the Premier League since returning from injury
| Opponent | Tackles | Dribbled Past | Yellow Card? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wolves | 5 | 4 | Yes |
| West Ham | 3 | 3 | No |
| Aston Villa | 9 | 5 | Yes |
| Luton | 1 | 2 | Yes |
It's an indication that Casemiro’s powers are waning at an alarming level and Man Utd must sign a replacement this summer.
Amadou Onana and Joao Neves have both been linked with a move to Old Trafford, and a pursuit of either player would make perfect sense given Casemiro’s ill-discipline in recent weeks.
