Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag has admitted that while he is taking a ‘risk’ with the fitness of Casemiro, the same sentiment can be applied to the rest of his squad.
The Brazilian has already racked up 2,051 minutes for the Red Devils this season either side of a gruelling World Cup campaign with Brazil.
Casemiro has completed the full 90 minutes in 11 of United’s last 13 Premier League matches and his only absence since joining the club came when he was suspended for their recent trip to Arsenal.
Ten Hag, who revealed he is relishing a busy fixture schedule, said he is indeed taking a ‘risk’ with Casemiro’s fitness but that is no different to his other key players.
“[Casemiro] is important but in top football there’s a risk and we know that,” Ten Hag said.
“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 [Fernandes] 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.”
On this edition of The Promised Land, part of the 90min podcast network, Scott Saunders & Rob Blanchette discuss Jadon Sancho’s return as a number 10 for Manchester United, Marcel Sabitzer’s arrival from Bayern Munich & more.
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