Manchester United midfielder Carlos Henrique Casemiro will make his return to the team after serving a four-game ban. The Brazilian was absent from games for around a month after receiving a red card in the match against West Brom. Although Manchester United had the option of appealing against the decision, they chose not to do so.
Casemiro’s availability for upcoming games
The decision not to appeal meant that Casemiro missed games against Brighton, Tottenham, Granada, as well as the Carabao Cup final against Manchester City. However, he will be available to play in the upcoming fixtures against Sevilla and Nottingham Forest. Both games are crucial for Manchester United, as they look to secure progression in the UEFA Europa League quarter-finals and maintain their position in the top four of the Premier League.
Best of You agency’s approach to challenge ban
Casemiro was represented by the Best of You agency, who considered using videos to challenge the ban. However, Manchester United decided not to pursue this option. Nevertheless, it is clear that Casemiro’s presence on the field has been missed by Manchester United over the past few weeks.
Erik ten Hag’s statement on red cards
Interestingly, Erik ten Hag – coach of Casemiro’s former club Ajax – stated that both red cards were unjustified. This is relevant given that Casemiro had no straight reds before this recent spate of incidents.
Loss & Value of Casemiro’s Absence
Casemiro’s absence from the Manchester United squad has been felt keenly by staff and fans alike. The Brazilian brings with him a feeling of security and quiet leadership that has been missed. This sentiment was echoed by his manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer who earlier this week referred to him as an ‘important player.’
Manchester United vs Sevilla in the Europa League quarter-finals
Casemiro’s return to the Manchester United team could be particularly significant as they face Sevilla in the Europa League quarter-finals. The match will take place at Old Trafford, and Sevilla is a six-time winner of the tournament. Despite this impressive record, Sevilla have struggled domestically this season. Furthermore, both teams have players who are missing due to injuries and suspensions.
The winner of the two legs will face Juventus or Sporting Lisbon in the semifinals. The match will be broadcast live on various TV streaming services, including in the US, UK, Canada and Australia. However, some viewers may need to use a VPN to access the game depending on their location.
Manchester United’s improved home form under Erik ten Hag
Manchester United’s current run of 24 unbeaten matches at Old Trafford in all competitions is particularly impressive. Their highest ever home unbeaten record is 40 matches, achieved in 1966 and 2017. To enter the top ten all-time table for unbeaten home matches, they would need to avoid defeat in three more games.
Under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s management, Manchester United has won 23 games at Old Trafford which is a significant improvement from previous seasons. Ten Hag has implemented changes to the pre-match routine which appears to have had positive results on the pitch.
Ten Hag has switched the dugouts so that United’s bench is closer to their home fans and further away from opposition benches. This has helped create a good atmosphere at home games with Ten Hag taping into their vibrancy. Consequently, they currently have a record of 11 wins from 15 Premier League games played at Old Trafford so far this season with a defence record of conceding only eight goals.
The club has also achieved an impressive home points-per-game average of 2.40 that comfortably surpasses the average of the nine completed seasons since Sir Alex Ferguson’s retirement.
Overall, Carlos Casemiro’s return to the team will be a boost for Manchester United as they look to end the season on a high. This is particularly true given their upcoming fixtures against Sevilla and Nottingham Forest in the Europa League quarter-finals and Premier League respectively.
Image Source: Wikimedia Commons
