Many felt Casemiro was walking a tightrope in the first-half against Luton Town at Kenilworth Road this evening.
The Brazilian was substituted at the break along with Harry Maguire.
Erik ten Hag told reporters after the 2-1 win over Luton Town that both substitutions were tactical, however, both players had been booked in the first-half and referee David Coote was trigger happy with the yellow cards.
Casemiro and Maguire were replaced by Scott McTominay and Jonny Evans.
Sadly, Luke Shaw came off minutes before the interval after to a fresh injury blow.
While it would be unfair to say Maguire was walking a tightrope, Casemiro was lucky not to see a red card for a second yellow card offence, but Ten Hag rightly pointed out that the first booking was unfair.
“I think the game was going in the direction , there was a lot of pressure on the referee, they both were a risk for another booking and we have a good replacement with Scott McTominay and Jonny Evans,” Ten Hag said, as quoted by the Manchester Evening News. “So that’s why we took them off, we didn’t want to go in that risk.”
Ten Hag was then asked about Casemiro’s foul on Luton Town midfielder Casemiro. The manager added: “It looked like even when he is not touching opponents he gets booked and that often on the first moment in the game as well. It is crazy and today was similar.
“It was so unfair, the first booking. The second could have been given and that’s why I took him off. It’s difficult to play if you don’t even touch an opponent and then you get booked.
“You can see now he (Casemiro) is back in the team he gives so much to the team, so much calmness, organisation, so we are very happy since he is back it lifted the team’s levels.”
📸 – NO SECOND YELLOW GIVEN FOR CASEMIRO! LUTON TOWN CAN'T BELIEVE IT! pic.twitter.com/PwvZL6gNrS
— 𝐀𝐅𝐂 𝐀𝐉𝐀𝐗 💎 (@TheEuropeanLad) February 18, 2024
Former United right-back Gary Neville was on commentary for Sky Sports and he sounded like he wanted Casemiro sent off with a slightly over-the-top overreaction.
Neville said, as per The Mirror: “He just lunges in after losing the ball, he’s a lucky boy [to not get sent off]. He’s very lucky, he’s ruffled and they’re all ruffled.
“He’s shouting, who is he shouting at? Garnacho? He’s ripping him apart, but to be fair, it’s not Garnacho’s fault because Casemiro was the one who lost the ball! Casemiro, if he manages to stay on the pitch for the next five minutes, then he has to be taken off at halftime.”
Luton boss Rob Edwards felt it was a telling sign that Casemiro was brought off at the break. He told Sky Sports (via MEN): “(Red card?) Potentially. I think him coming off at half time was a tell tale sign to that one.”
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