There aren’t many positives for Manchester United to take out of the 2023/24 Premier League campaign.
The hope of securing Champions League football is out of the window, but the FA Cup can save matters.
If Manchester United beat Manchester City in the FA Cup final, then some of the dark days of this season will probably be worth it.
But overall, only very few players can hold their heads up high, and not even the trophy-laden and experienced Casemiro can do so.
The 32-year-old will admit that he hasn’t been anywhere near his best and, at times, looks the shadow of the player who won trophy after trophy at Real Madrid – Jamie Carragher says Man United were sold a player on the decline.
But that still doesn’t hide the fact that his knowledge, experience and know-how would be infectious to that Manchester United dressing room, especially the young players.
Kobbie Mainoo has been a standout for ten Hag, despite only turning 19 earlier this month and is proving to be one of the first names on the team sheet.
Casemiro lauded the rising midfielder and how he is ‘excellent’ when donning the colours of his boyhood club, as he told Premier League Productions (29/04/24 at 5:40 pm).
The Brazil international was keen to point out that ‘we can’t put too much pressure on these players’ as he also highlighted Alejandro Garnacho and Rasmus Hojlund.
All three have been shining lights for their struggling team and Casemiro gave his flowers to the new kid on the block.
Kobbie Mainoo at Manchester United
“A good player, an excellent player,” said Casemiro. “I can see that he enjoys being on the pitch. I look out for him because he needs it and we can’t put too much pressure on these players. So, I try to take some of that pressure off their shoulders because that’s the process in football and life.
“I think speaking about Kobbie specifically, I think in the next three or four years, he’ll be one of the best midfielders in the Premier League. In time, not right now, with time. We can’t put that pressure on him now or on Garnacho, or Rasmus.
“No. Ultimately, they need to enjoy themselves. They need to go through this process and feel the fear of losing the ball, to push them to keep growing, to keep learning and to face up to it. Keep developing and keep working hard.”
England at Euro 2024
Many talk about the amount of football players are going through, well, it’s going to step up a level in the summer with two major tournaments in South America and Europe.
Euro 2024 in Germany is the one Mainoo will be hoping to be a part of after recently earning his maiden England call-up.
It has been announced that managers can name 26-man squads, rather than 23, which increases Mainoo’s chances of getting picked.
You would think, at the very least, Gareth Southgate should select him, but you just never know with him because it wouldn’t be a surprise if he leaves the Old Trafford star at home.
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