Ten Hag Unveils Clever Plan to Neutralize Casemiro in Leeds Clash as Fringe Star Gets New Role
Casemiro has joined Manchester United’s group of sidelined midfielders, thus Erik ten Hag must find a solution for the match against Leeds.
After collecting his first red card of his career against Crystal Palace, Erik ten Hag may have already proposed an unconventional replacement for Casemiro. The Brazil midfielder will miss Manchester United’s next three Premier League games due to injury.
Casemiro was shown a red card by referee Andre Marriner for allegedly grabbing Will Hughes by the throat on Saturday at Old Trafford. United had been cruising toward victory before to Casemiro’s sending-off.
After a major melee between the home team’s and Palace’s players, VAR summoned the 30-year-old to the pitchside monitor and shown a camera view that suggested he had a grasp on Hughes’ neck.
United may appeal the ruling as other camera angles captured Casemiro clutching his shirt and the two smiling shortly later.
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In doing so, though, Manchester United risk his suspension being extended to four games and thus missing the Carabao Cup final against Newcastle United.
Ten Hag will be without the core of his in-form team for this week’s doubleheader against Leeds United and next weekend’s match against Leicester City.
With Christian Eriksen, Donny van de Beek, and Scott McTominay also out due to injury, he faces a dilemma in the middle of the field.
Fred is a lock for the starting lineup, although Marcel Sabitzer has just arrived and was loaned to replace Eriksen rather than Casemiro.
If Ten Hag desires a defensive-minded player to play alongside Fred or Sabitzer against Leeds, he may have alluded to a potential alternative.
The Dutchman replaced Casemiro with Victor Lindelof during United’s 2-0 victory over Nottingham Forest on Wednesday.
After the game, he admitted that Lindelof began his career as a holding midfielder and said that he wanted his center-backs to be able to play in the middle when necessary.
Ten Hag stated, “Lindelof was trained as a six, a controlling holding midfielder, at Benfica, so I know he’s capable of doing so, and we’ve already tested it in training and possibly in a game.
“But also, there, I also want my centre-halves sometimes playing in midfield positions so that we create different dynamics. So it’s just to construct more dynamic in the team.”
Lisandro Martinez, who occasionally played in midfield for Ajax under Ten Hag, will also be considered.
On Wednesday, when Leeds visit M16, it wouldn’t be surprising to see Lindelof start ahead of the centre-back duo.
