A few minutes later, he responded to a question on Casemiro by dwelling on last season. "I think we needed the six when I arrived here and last season Casemiro was fantastic," Ten Hag enthused.
"I don't think he ever scored so many goals as well but as a six, a holding midfielder, a strategist, he was so important for the team." Casemiro was the difference in United qualifying for the Champions League. He nodded home in the League Cup final and got the ball rolling with another headed opener on the night United secured a top four finish against Chelsea.
Marcus Rashford inevitably added the Sir Matt Busby statue to his trophy room but Casemiro would have been as worthy a recipient. He and Ten Hag sat side-byside in San Sebastian for a prematch press conference and were kindred spirits.
"After being in football for quite a while, despite the fact I am only 30, the obsession for winning, his (Ten Hag's) obsession for winning is what surprised me the most," Casemiro confessed.
Player and manager have suffered an acute case of second season syndrome. Casemiro is on his last legs and the FA Cup final could be his last dance in elite football.
"This season, he struggled with a bad injury he never had in his career," Ten Hag added yesterday. "But I know he is such a winner see his career.
This story is from the April 20, 2024 edition of Manchester Evening News.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the April 20, 2024 edition of Manchester Evening News.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
White Lion ready to roar again
ONE of Greater Manchester’s most historic pubs is set to open its doors again after lying vacant for more than a decade.
Word from the street on why Sancho is not sorry
UNITED first-team coach Benni McCarthy has explained why Jadon Sancho refused to apologise to Erik ten Hag earlier this season.
We'll use underdog tag as our ammunition
SALE BOSS FIRES WARNING TO BATH
Appeal as girl fights for life after shooting
DETECTIVES have appealed for information from Turkish and Kurdish communities as a nine-year-old girl continues to fight for her life following a \"reckless\" shooting while she ate dinner at a restaurant with her family.
Trump to fight verdict
DONALD Trump returned to the campaign trail a day after he became the first former or current US president to be convicted of a crime.
The town that turned blue may now be switching back
RESIDENTS SAY THEY ARE LOOKING TO LABOUR TO REVERSE DECADE OF DECLINE
I'm committed to bringing forward Martyn's Law
PRIME MINISTER SAYS HE DIDN’T LIE TO ARENA BOMB VICTIM’S MUM ABOUT ANTI-TERROR RULE
Family horror as boy's 'virus' is diagnosed as blood cancer
JOZEF, 8, HAD BAFFLED MEDICS AFTER SUDDENLY FALLING ILL
'Boxer' cleared of dad's brawl manslaughter
A 'BOXER' who punched a dad during a town centre brawl has been cleared of unlawfully killing him.
Five quizzed in probe into teenager's death
FIVE men have been arrested and remain under investigation on suspicion of child sexual exploitation offences committed against Victoria Agoglia – a 15-year-old who died in Rochdale in 2003 after she was forcibly injected with heroin, the M.E.N. can reveal.