In his beginning is his end; now the night falls. Two years ago, before their third game of the season, against Liverpool, having lost one of the games they had played 2-1 against Brighton, Manchester United presented Casemiro before an adoring crowd at Old Trafford.
At the weekend, before their third game of the season, against Liverpool, having lost one of the games they had played 2-1 against Brighton, Manchester United withdrew Casemiro before a despairing crowd at Old Trafford. Two years ago, United won 2-1; on Sunday, they lost 3-0, and it could have been a lot worse.
It was painful to watch: a player who once commanded games, who has won four Champions Leagues, been integral to one of the most successful sides in history, reduced to a player so devoid of confidence even the basics looked a challenge. The early signs this season had been promising. There was a sense that Casemiro was sharper again, that the concerns about his fitness that had plagued last season might have been surmounted. But on Sunday his pass accuracy was just 73%, way off what is acceptable for a defensive midfielder, and his errors cost the opening two goals.
And yet there is a context.
Denne historien er fra September 03, 2024-utgaven av The Guardian.
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 September 03, 2024-utgaven av The Guardian.
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
'A very different vibe' Disquiet over Linkin Park's explosive comeback
Oasis may have sold a lot of tickets, but for many music fans there's an even bigger rock comeback this year: Linkin Park, whose first three albums went 25 times platinum between them in the US alone, have dramatically ended a seven-year hiatus that followed the 2017 suicide of co-frontman Chester Bennington.
Spud we like How TikTok helped spark a huge baked potato revival
By 10.30am, a queue is already forming outside a closed baked potato van in a converted tram in Preston, Lancashire.
Turkey Body of activist killed in West Bank lands in Istanbul
The body of the Turkish-American activist Ayşenur Ezgi Eygi has landed in Istanbul, carried by a procession of Turkish honour guard soldiers.
First spy cams, now deepfake porn South Korean fury at scale of abuse
The anger was palpable. For the second time in just a few years, South Korean women took to the streets of Seoul to demand an end to sexual abuse. When the country spearheaded Asia’s #MeToo movement, the culprit was molka – spy cams used to record women without their knowledge. Now their fury was directed at an epidemic of deepfake pornography.
Boeing workers begin strike for more pay after rejecting CEO's pleas to accept deal
Tens of thousands of Boeing workers walked off the job yesterday after voting overwhelmingly to strike for higher pay, halting production of the planemaker's strongest-selling jet as it wrestles with chronic output delays and mounting debt.
Public body takes control of UK gas and electric network
The government has agreed to take over the National Grid unit tasked with keeping the lights on in a £630m deal that takes effect from next month.
Bristol airport Private parking fines may be unenforceable
Are private \"fines\" sent by Bristol airport to motorists picking up passengers outside its designated, paid-for, drop-off and pickup zone unenforceable? It certainly looks as though they may be, if an eagle-eyed Guardian reader and a leading consumer solicitor are correctly interpreting the bylaws that govern the airport.
Fall of Huw Edwards is a turning point for BBC, say experts
The dramatic fall of Huw Edwards has to be a wake-up call for broadcasters and a turning point for the embattled BBC, experts have said, days before the sentencing of the disgraced presenter on Monday.
Good times, bad times UK fashion bounces back after bad year
The question at London fashion week is: do you want the good news or the bad news first? The outlook for British fashion depends where you look.
There have been many noble visions to save the NHS. Will this one be realised?
The NHS is in serious trouble. This is the considered diagnosis of Lord Darzi and this week's report into the NHS.
