Casemiro’s controversial red card and referee Andre Marriner’s performance will dominate the headlines from Manchester United’s gritty win over Crystal Palace but there was another key event at the Theatre of Dreams.
Marcel Sabitzer, signed on loan earlier this week to replace the injured Christian Eriksen, was brought on with roughly 10 minutes to play, becoming the first Austrian to feature for the club.
Sabitzer’s debut, which he will be happy to have marked with a win, was an impressive cameo and Luke Shaw has been quick to single the Bayern Munich loanee out for special praise.
“He was amazing,” Shaw told the official Manchester United website. “He’s not been here long, he’s only been here a couple of days now.
“He’s shown his quality in training and you know, to come on with 10 men and show that impressive performance in not so long is good and shows signs to come of what he’s about.”
Sabitzer earned the roar of approval from the Old Trafford crowd on a number of occasions and there was one interception, in particular, that could have elevated his first outing even further.
Instead, the referee surprisingly gave a free-kick to the visitors as Rashford ran through on goal after Sabitzer had played him in. Nevertheless, Casemiro’s three-game suspension now means that Sabitzer will be thrown straight into the deep end.
If his first appearance is anything to go by, Sabitzer will be exactly what Old Trafford have been treated to for the last couple of months – hunger, determination, and a neverending thirst of winning.
Red card will be recinded there was no aggression only restraint on casemiros behalf