Casemiro was a welcome sight in Manchester United training sessions this week after ESPN reported he picked up a minor injury against Liverpool.
The Brazilian was back in United’s starting line-up against Real Betis and played all 90 minutes in the 4-1 win.
He helped United really take control in the second half, with a masterclass in breaking up possession and winning the ball back for the team.
Importantly, Casemiro managed to avoid a yellow card so will be available for the second leg. Of course with a 4-1 lead, it might have been a game he could afford to miss. Bookings are only wiped out after the quarter-finals.
Casemiro stars
Casemiro played an important role for United defensively and also was a threat going forward, taking three shots at goal and creating one chance.
He made 16 ball recoveries and four interceptions, helping United to break up Betis’ attacks. He was perhaps a little too wary of getting booked, not putting in for a single tackle.
Real Betis full-back Youssouf Sabaly told AS before the game that he was impressed by how Casemiro has fitted in at Old Trafford.
He said: “Casemiro has balanced United’s game, he contributes defensively and offensively. He balances everything.”
This was the case last night. Casemiro had 82 touches, in comparison to Betis midfielder William Carvalho’s 58.
Sabaly had also said: “I saw clips of United matches, but we all know their big names. At the offensive level they are very dangerous, it is a very complete team.”
Last night he saw how ‘dangerous’ the Red Devils were for real. While Betis went in 1-1 at half-time, United were very wasteful in the first half, and in the second, they developed a more ruthless edge.
This was just the second time this season United have scored four goals in a match, the other being the 4-2 cup win over Aston Villa in November.
We said earlier this week that the Liverpool defeat could create a monster, with United taking a more ruthless approach in front of goal.
Last night wasn’t ruthless enough, with several chances wasted, and the team still scored four. There is a lot more to come from this side.
Paul Scholes raves about Manchester United star who he ‘never wants to see’ on the wing again
Paul Scholes has praised Bruno Fernandes after Manchester United’s 4-1 victory over Real Betis.
Fernandes scored Manchester United’s third goal and played a key role in the first, scored by Marcus Rashford.
It was the perfect way to respond after a tough few days in which Fernandes had been criticised heavily, with calls from pundits for him to lose the captaincy after the loss to Liverpool.
Fernandes received support from his manager Erik ten Hag, and the Old Trafford crowd.
Scholes backs Fernandes
Paul Scholes was the one pundit who did stick up for Bruno Fernandes earlier this week, saying he was simply being played out of position.
He made reference to this after the win over Real Betis, with Fernandes playing more of a central role.
Speaking to BT Sport, Scholes said: “He brilliant in centre of the pitch, where we know that’s his position.
“I hope we never see him in a wide area again on the football pitch. It’s just not his strength, he was so good in the centre dictating play.”
United won the game 4-1, building up a healthy advantage to take into the second leg.
Marcus Rashford scored United’s opener before Real Betis equalised. In the second half United went into another gear, with Antony, Bruno Fernandes and Wout Weghorst scoring.
This was Weghorst’s second goal for United and his first at Old Trafford, and first since late January.
