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Manchester United midfielder Casemiro is set for three matches on the sidelines after getting sent off in his side’s 2-1 victory over Crystal Palace. The 30-year-old got involved in a scuffle with Will Hughes after a rough challenge on his United teammate, Antony, and VAR ruled that he had overstepped the mark.
It is the second time in just over two weeks that the Brazilian has faced disciplinary issues against Crystal Palace. In the game at Selhurst Park on the 18th of January, Casemiro picked up his 5th booking of the season and missed the game against Arsenal the following Sunday.
This time, Casemiro is set for three games out of the United team. Thankfully for him and United, though, he has narrowly avoided missing out on the Carabao Cup final at the end of the month. Instead, he will miss United’s next three league games which are as follows:
- Leeds United (H)
- Leeds United (A)
- Leicester City (H)
The Brazilian, who has been a revelation since signing from Real Madrid in the summer, will also be available for the games against Barcelona in the Europa League. Erik Ten Hag’s team face the Catalan side on the 16th and 23rd of February and Casemiro will be available with domestic cards not carrying over into UEFA competitions.
On the bright side, Casemiro has 12 days off to prepare for Barcelona👀
— Trey (@UTDTrey) February 4, 2023
Ten Hag asks for consistency
Speaking after the match, Manchester United manager Erik Ten Hag told reporters that he just wants consistency from VAR. He believes that they have failed to get involved in similar situations against his team this season. He said:
“You have to be consistent as a VAR. Last week we missed Eriksen, no intervention from VAR. Martinez was running for two weeks with a bump on his eyebrow after Mateta elbowed him. This isn’t right.
Casemiro is protecting our player and protecting Hughes by holding him back. If Casemiro should have been sent off, many more players should have been sent off. You have to protect each other but we want to keep our standards and values. You can’t cross lines, but you have to stick together.”
The United boss also commented that Crystal Palace striker, Jordan Ayew, also should have seen red in the scuffle that occurred after the tackle on Antony. The Ghanain appeared to strike Fred in the face but referee, Andre Marriner, wasn’t instructed to take a second look at that particular incident.
United’s options without Casemiro
Since his first start in a Manchester United shirt, Casemiro has been one of the club’s best players and a key reason for their resurgence. The only real time that we’ve seen a glimpse of what a Casemiro-less United looks like was in the 3-2 loss to Arsenal.
On that occasion, Scott Mctominay filled in for the Brazilian but failed to make an impression. With the Scot out injured, Victor Lindelof may well start as holding midfielder for the game against Leeds on Wednesday night with Ten Hag trialling the Swede there during the Carabao Cup semi-final match against Nottingham Forest.
Alternatively, Ten Hag may feel that a Fred-Sabitzer pivot is strong enough to deal with Leeds and Leicester – two sides struggling in the lower half of the Premier League.
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