Ruben Amorim heads into his first full season as Manchester United head coach having used up most of his credit in a disastrous six-month period since taking over from Erik ten Hag last winter.
The record-low Premier League finish highlights the issues the boss has found since his arrival with performance levels dropping almost week-on-week.
Amorim arrived and immediately promised United fans they would see a style, with a dynamic, attacking team built in his image ready to take on the leading lights in the division.
However, things didn’t go to plan and Amorim found himself turning to a player he originally didn’t see in his immediate, or long-term plans.
Casemiro’s Redemption
Casemiro was left out of the majority of Amorim’s early starting lineups and the Brazilian’s United career looked all but over heading into the second half of the season.
Nevertheless, the experienced star kept his head down and watched the likes of Marcus Rashford and fellow country man Antony shipped out after failing to meet the standards set by the new head coach.
He worked hard physically, displaying professionalism both on and off the pitch, and Amorim quickly realized he had a reliable ally in Casemiro and knew he had to find a place for the former Real Madrid man in his ranks.
Casemiro responded in kind with some dominant displays in Europe, rolling back the years to lead United to the Europa League final which could have saved a wretched domestic campaign.
Ultimately, United failed to win the trophy but Casemiro’s role in getting his teammates to Bilbao did not go unnoticed and should be enough to see him keep his place in Manchester next season.
It would have been all too easy for a player who has seen it all, and won the lot at club level to sit back, guard his reputation and pick up his sizable wage packet each week.
The fight shown by the 33-year-old is an example to every player at Old Trafford, particularly in a dressing room that seems to be filled with a crop of pampered stars who simply do not understand what it means to pull on the famous red shirt.
Good enough for the future?
Can United get back to winning titles with Casemiro in the heart of the midfield? No. But United are a far cry from reaching those heights immediately and with the squad in the middle of a huge overhaul, having a six-time Champions League winner around will help drive the standards Amorim is desperate to instill.
Furthermore, there is still a player in there who can, if saved for the right moments, have an impact on the pitch, as demonstrated by his levels when fit and firing in the final months of the season.
It would madness to demand box-to-box, all-conquering midfield displays week-in and week-out from him but a Premier League season tests you in ways no other league does and there will be a time and place for Casemiro next term.
It goes without saying when he is on the pitch, he will need legs around him but with United expecting to have more control of the ball going into the new season, having Casemiro’s experience at the base of the midfield could prove invaluable in crucial moments.
Looking to the future, Amorim will certainly want to replace the Brazilian with someone of his ilk, but finding someone with the same professionalism and genuine desire to win as Casemiro will be hard to find.
The argument to move him off the wage bill this summer will raise its head but United have found some control with player wages recently and would need to splash a hefty transfer free to bring a player in that can match what Casemiro can offer off the pitch, perhaps as importantly as what he does on it.
INEOS are reportedly willing to do business with clubs for the midfielder’s services but should be very careful with parting with a player that means so much to the dressing room.
Casemiro is held in huge regard by all of his peers at Old Trafford, with staff members reportedly also impressed with his attitude, even when not starting games as regularly as he’d like.
The likes of Toby Collyer and Kobbie Mainoo will be learning every day from a serial winner about how to operate in the middle of the park on the big stage.
It feels like a no-brainer to keep the Brazil legend, who has recently been recalled to his national side by Carlo Ancelotti no less, around for another twelve months to allow Amorim time to focus on the other areas of his squad that are in much more dire need of attention than the position Casemiro holds.
Feature image Justin Setterfield via Getty Images
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Conner Botterill
Conner Botterill has been with The Peoples Person for two years. A keen match-going red with degrees in Sport and Journalism and Philosophy and Psychology, Conner still believes he has a chance of making United’s first team through his 5-a-side career.
