Ten Hag gives damning explanation for early Casemiro exit
Daniel Edwards
- 7 Oct 2023 21:00 BST
- 3 min read
Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag did not hold back as he explained why he took Casemiro out after just 45 minutes of Saturday's last-gasp win over Brentford.
The Brazil midfielder enjoyed a sterling debut season in England following his move from Real Madrid in 2022, but has struggled to replicate that form so far this season.
And as he has toiled, so have United as results continue to disappoint at Old Trafford.
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On Saturday United were trailing 1-0 at home to Brentford at half-time when Ten Hag took the drastic decision to hook the veteran.
The gamble eventually paid off as Scott McTominay hit twice in injury to secure victory for the relieved Reds; but the manager's words after the game might give Casemiro some food for thought.
'Eat or get eaten'
"[The players) know how far they have to go to get results and it can't be easy going. In football, it's eat or get eaten and too many times in the first half of the season we got eaten by teams who are more hungry," he told reporters after the game.
"This must be the turning point. This reflects our season so far from the start of a game. It has to be that you believe and you see the fans believe: they are sticking together.
They are behind us and they kept us going. But then we have a plan and that is the big compliment for the team.
"They kept the plan. They kept switching. And from there on in the right moment, you bring the ball in the box.
"And of course we had to make and bring more players in the box. And I think that's what we did the last 30 minutes and then you get rewarded in the end.”
United now sit 10th in the Premier League standings, eight points behind current leaders Tottenham.
