Manchester United will have to live without key midfielder Casemiro for their next three Premier League matches after the Brazilian was shown a straight red card in the 2-1 victory over Crystal Palace.
Casemiro was dismissed after VAR intervened midway through the second half. It advised referee Andre Marriner to take a look at the pitchside monitor, which showed a replay of Casemiro holding Palace midfielder Will Hughes by the throat.
Marriner then returned to the pitch to brandish Casemiro a red card. It was the first sending off of Erik ten Hag’s tenure, and the first time the 30-year-old has been shown a straight red in his European career.
Coincidentally, in his pre-match press conference Ten Hag spoke about the prospect of missing his marquee summer signing.
“He’s important but in top football there’s a risk and we know that,” Ten Hag said of Casemiro.
“We know players get injured and you can’t avoid it. Of course, if you want to be successful in the season you need your key players on board and that’s definitely the truth.
“I think it’s not possible to have two Casemiros or two Christian Eriksens. I think in that part we can be a bit deeper but also I think we said before the season that we want to restore Man United but it will take time. It will take seasons to get back the days when you can compete for everything and for the highest trophies in the world.
“It is (a risk) for every player and Bruno is also playing every game. Those players are capable of it and that’s why they are so good. You can always rely on them as a club and that’s why they have won so many trophies.
“Casemiro at Real Madrid, I think also there he played so many games.”
Casemiro also picked up a suspension in his last meeting with Crystal Palace. He subsequently sat out United’s next league meeting – a thrilling 3-2 defeat away to Arsenal.
This three-match suspension means that Casemiro will miss the upcoming Premier League matches home and away against old rivals Leeds United and at home to Leicester City.
He’s free to play in both legs United’s upcoming Europa League clash with Barcelona, which happen either side of the match against Leicester.
The Brazilian can then return to domestic action in the Carabao Cup final. Newcastle United’s own talismanic Brazilian midfielder Bruno Guimaraes will also be returning at Wembley, as he serves a three-match ban in the league after receiving a straight red in their semi-final win over…
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