Manchester United players are under the impression that Casemiro could be dropped by Erik ten Hag for the side’s FA Cup final clash with Manchester City.
Casemiro has been a regular for United when fit and available this season, making 31 starts in all competitions ahead of tomorrow’s all-Manchester affair at Wembley, a repeat of last year’s cup final.
The 32-year-old midfielder has even filled in as a makeshift centre-back amid United’s defensive injury crisis, with Harry Maguire, Raphael Varane, Lisandro Martinez, Victor Lindelof, Jonny Evans and Willy Kambwala all sidelined through injury in recent weeks.
But according to The Athletic, Ten Hag is giving serious consideration to the idea of omitting Casemiro from his starting XI and the Brazilian’s team-mates believe there is a high chance he will be left out versus City.
In training, the Red Devils have been preparing for the derby with Casemiro missing from their starting line-up and Sofyan Amrabat is likely be given the nod in midfield after impressing Ten Hag in recent games.
The report claims that such a bold decision would not be supported by all of United’s team considering the vast experience Casemiro – a five-time Champions League winner with Real Madrid – has in high-pressure contests.
Ten Hag’s injury woes have eased somewhat in recent days, with Varane, Martinez and Evans all available for selection again after working their way back from injury.
There had been hopes Maguire could return to full fitness in time to feature at Wembley, but the England international – United’s former captain – has been ruled out of the clash.
The 31-year-old last featured in United’s 1-1 draw at home to Burnley and missed the final five games of the Premier League campaign due to a groin injury.
‘Gutted I’ll be missing the final,’ Maguire told his followers on Instagram on the eve of the final.
‘I would do anything to be available but now full focus on supporting the boys. Come on United!’
Facing the media in the build-up to the final, the United head coach refused to be drawn on the intense speculation over his future and insisted he was focussed on purely footballing matters.
‘I have nothing to say,’ Ten Hag told reporters at his pre-match press conference.
‘I am just focusing on the job I have to do and that is first win the game on Saturday and then we are in the project. Keep going in the project.’
Ten Hag added: ‘I came here to win trophies. Saturday I have the next opportunity and we achieved this, earned this opportunity as a team and now we have to go for it.
‘In the same time, in the last two years, of course after every season you review it and then we will see where we are in the project and things we have to change.
‘We spoke lately about it. Underneath there are very good things – players coming up, players developing, values coming up. And, in the same time, we have on Saturday a big opportunity to win the next trophy.’
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