AS the dust settled on another thumping for United away at City, in the sprawling Etihad press room Erik ten Hag unconvincingly explained why he did not maximise a Portuguese-speaking five-times Champions League winner out of 'big respect for his career! The Reds boss was speaking about Cristiano Ronaldo, but might as well have referred to Casemiro.
The Brazilian had not yet lined up in the Premier League and the ramifications of his slow integration crystallised at the Etihad in the first Manchester derby of the season.
United were 4-0 down at the interval and trailed 6-1 going into the final 10 minutes.
Casemiro emerged on the hour to plug the gaps, but City scored two more. "They were better than us in that game," the player concedes ahead of today's FA Cup final between the sides.
"They deserved to beat us but when you talk about a 6-3 in the context of a league, it's still three more points that you get.
"Of course, in the end, your morale drops and it's boosted when you score six in victory but it's three points like any other game. So, it was another three points. We beat them at home." Casemiro started in the Old Trafford derby in January. One of the most enduring images is of him enveloping two young supporters as he wildly celebrated Marcus Rashford's winner. A euphoric supporter tugged at Casemiro's shirt, so he received a bearhug, too.
Though City stewed over Bruno Fernandes's contentious equaliser, United were wilier than their naive approach in the reverse fixture and Casemiro's inclusion was key.
"We know we have to play very well," says the Brazil international.
"They play very good football, have a great manager, players but every game is a different story, a different film, as we great like to say.
Denne historien er fra June 03, 2023-utgaven av Manchester Evening News.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent ? Logg på
Denne historien er fra June 03, 2023-utgaven av Manchester Evening News.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
Ugarte is learning from Reds coach Fletcher
MANUEL Ugarte has praised Darren Fletcher for his role in helping players understand the significance of playing for United, following confirmation that he will remain at the club.
Agonising defeat for Great Britain
GREAT Britain suffered Billie Jean King Cup heartbreak as Slovakia fought back to claim a 2-1 victory in the semi-finals in Malaga.
Harland Wolff's ferry firm piled up debts of over 3m
HARLAND & WOLFF'S ill-fated venture into the ferry service sector, Scilly Ferries, amassed debts of over £3 million before succumbing to administration earlier this year, according to official filings.
US long-range missiles fired at Russia - Moscow
UKRAINE fired six American-supplied longer-range missiles at Russia's Bryansk region, Moscow said yesterday, in what would be Kyiv's first use of the weapons inside Russia in 1,000 days of war.
Dance turned my life around
A BRITISH dancer who was paralysed at 13 years old said the sport has transformed her life as she sets her sights on a medal at the Para Dance Sport European Championships.
TV school set to be demolished
A FORMER school which appeared in episodes of BBC drama Waterloo Road could be demolished under new plans by Salford council.
Yellow lines spark parking wars
RESIDENTS IN SHOCK OVER RESTRICTIONS
'The bullet was still in him...as far as we know, it's still there'
TRIAL HEARS HOW MAN SURVIVED BEING SHOT IN CHEST AT CLOSE RANGE
CAUGHT ONY CAMERA
DRIVERS CAPTURED ON PHONES AND WITHOUT BELTS IN SAFETY BLITZ
Here comes the Sunday
HOPES FOR NEW DEAL TO END WEEKEND MISERY FOR NORTHERN RAIL PASSENGERS
