100% dribbles, 100% aerial duels won, 1 key pass: United star proving INEOS wrong as he ran the show vs Fulham

Manchester United came up with the goods late on as they clinched a dramatic 3-2 win over Fulham at Old Trafford on Sunday. When the visitors equalised in added time, the fans must have been dreading the worst. However, things have changed under Michael Carrick. For the second game in a row, a substitute has popped up to score a late winner, with Benjamin Sesko providing the late fireworks on Sunday. However, if there is one player who deserves plaudits, it is Casemiro. The Brazilian looks transformed under the caretaker head coach. Casemiro rolled back the years on Sunday United’s direct style suits his strengths, as does the familiarity of playing in a known system alongside the ever-improving Kobbie Mainoo. Against the Cottagers, the former Real Madrid superstar scored the opening goal, while assisting Matheus Cunha’s strike in the second half. The Brazil international is known for his prowess from set-pieces, and he did not disappoint, as he met Bruno Fernandes’ inch-perfect free-kick with a bullet header. His assist for United’s second was a thing of beauty: a no-look pass straight into Cunha’s path, who did not have to break stride as he crashed the ball past Bernd Leno. Quality both on and off the ball The 33-year-old rolled the clock back, completing 100 percent of his dribbles, while providing three accurate long balls to his teammates. MetricValue Goals1 Expected Goals (xG)0.19 Assists1 Expected Assists (xA)0.13 Key Passes1 Crosses (Accurate)0 (0) Accurate Passes31 / 39 (79%) Passes in Opposition Half (Acc.)15 / 19 (79%) Passes in Own Half (Acc.)16 / 20 (80%) Long Balls (Accurate)3 / 6 (50%) Total Shots1 Shots on Target1 Expected Goals on Target (xGOT)0.82 Shots Blocked0 Offsides1 Touches53 Dribbles (Successful)1 (1) Was Fouled1 Possession Lost8 Total Carrying Distance69.4 m Carries9 Total Progression12.7 m Defensive Contributions7 Tackles (Won)3 (1) Interceptions1 Clearances3 Blocked Shots0 Recoveries3 Ground Duels (Won)7 (5) Aerial Duels (Won)2 (2) Fouls1 Dribbled Past1 stats via sofascore Off the ball, Casemiro was as relentless as ever, winning one tackle, completing three clearances, and making one key interception. He also recovered the ball three times, while winning seven duels, including all his aerial duels. Carrick could not have asked for more (stats via sofascore). It was not a surprise to see the Red Devils falter once he went off, with Manuel Ugarte struggling to fill the void. Casemiro will be hard to replace Sunday’s performance was once again a reminder that the home side could do with Casemiro moving forward, might not be in every game, but his big-game nous, and leadership are qualities worth investing in. Maybe INEOS should have tried harder to keep him for at least a season more. They will need to find someone with quality both on and off the ball to replace the five-time Champions League winner. Hopefully, Casemiro can keep his form up and end his time in Manchester on a high, guiding the club back into the Champions League. Feature image Carl Recine via Getty Images The Peoples Person has been one of the world’s leading Man United news sites for over a decade. Follow us on Bluesky: @peoplesperson.bsky.social Ayantan Chowdhury After failing to become a professional footballer, Ayantan switched to the next best thing: writing about the greatest football club in the world. He has extensive sports journalism experience, having worked for over 10 years in the Indian sports media industry, writing for the biggest newspapers and websites. Currently an editor at The Peoples Person. You can follow him on X: @ayantanc_25