Ruben Amorim hopes that Manchester United’s fringe players take encouragement from Casemiro’s revival in the team.
Manchester United are in good form after winning three Premier League matches on the bounce. It has taken Ruben Amorim a year as head coach for this run to happen. Still, he owes a great deal to his players for adhering to his instructions, especially in the 3-4-2-1 system, which initially drew heavy criticism at the beginning of the season.
Now, United are climbing up the Premier League table. New signings like Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha have hit the ground running, while some of the more experienced players in the dressing room are taking responsibility.
That includes Bruno Fernandes, Casemiro and Matthijs de Ligt.
Casemiro produced an exceptional performance last Saturday as United beat Brighton 4-2 at Old Trafford. The Brazil international assisted the opener for Cunha and scored the second of the match after a huge deflection.
It was the latest in a string of impressive performances from Casemiro, who wasn’t in Amorim’s plans when he took the job last year. The former Real Madrid star deserves credit for his revival in United’s midfield.
Man Utd fringe players can take inspiration from Casemiro
Amorim isn’t naïve enough to think United’s winning run is enough to satisfy everyone at the football club. Of course, those involved in the team for this three-match win streak will be delighted, but those sitting on the bench could be getting cold feet knowing 2026 is a World Cup year.
Keeping an entire squad happy is difficult because there will be players wanting more minutes. That is currently a greater challenge for Amorim with United not competing in Europe because that means fewer matches for fringe players.
Amorim accepts there will be departures in January as some squad members will make requests to leave for regular game time elsewhere, but he doesn’t shy away from how that could open the door for new signings to compete for places in the team.
However, Amorim has stressed that things can change very quickly in football.
The head coach used Casemiro as a prime example of a player who was overlooked in the early days of Amorim’s reign at Old Trafford – but 12 months ago, he is one of the first names in the line-up.
“First of all, they understand, I prove that anyone can play, and everyone has to do the same things, not in the same way, but there are some things that everyone, no matter what is your name, you have to do it to play for Manchester United,” Amorim told reporters at his press conference.
“And that can help to manage. I try to explain all the time to the players that we are not just playing today, not just this year, but then the next seasons. So they feel that they are part of the journey, and that we are part of something more bigger than just one game or one season.
“So they are part of our path. And then I show also to them that Casemiro was not part of the starting XI, he was behind, and then he fought. He won the place, and if you win the place, you will be playing. So I think that helped them to understand that I’m trying to be fair, and they are part of something very special that is very important to us.”
Casemiro stats this season
Despite being 33 and coming to the end of his contract at United, Casemiro remains a key player, forming a double pivot with Fernandes in the centre of the pitch.
Casemiro doesn’t have the legs he had during his time at Real Madrid, where he won the Champions League five times, but that doesn’t stop him from influencing games at the highest level in the latter years of his career.
So far this season, Casemiro has made eight appearances for United.
He has scored two goals on top of one assist, three yellow cards (including a double booking against Chelsea).
Casemiro is expected to start against Nottingham Forest on Saturday evening.
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