TA wrote that Casemiro was sitting on the bench in the away game against Liverpool only 10 months ago, but now before visiting Anfield again, he has become an indispensable core of the team again.
Casemiro's Manchester United career has always been entangled with his rival Liverpool. His debut ceremony after joining in 2022 was held before the victory over Liverpool. But he also experienced a 0-7 defeat at Anfield. In the game against the Red Army last season, he was replaced by then coach Ten Hag due to his poor half-time performance, and encountered the lowest point of his career.
In the early days of Amorim taking office, the situation did not improve. According to reports, the new coach once believed that the 33-year-old Casemiro was "not mobile enough" and could not adapt to his tactical system, which resulted in him not getting a chance to play in as many as 9 of the first 13 games. However, according to people close to the player, Casemiro did not feel depressed because of this. Instead, through his efforts on the training ground, he finally seized the opportunity when the team encountered a wave of injuries and entered the Europa League, and won back the coach's trust with his performance.
Nowadays, the importance of Casemiro is self-evident. Data shows that since last season, his average number of steals per game (4.5) ranks first in the team, and many key statistics are also among the best. The balance he provides on the court is crucial to Amorim's tactical system.
It is understood that although the club is unlikely to activate the high-paying renewal clause in its existing contract, it is not impossible for the two parties to negotiate a new contract. The player and his family are happy in Manchester and he has no intention of leaving the team.
After returning to the Brazilian national team, Casemiro is looking forward to playing an important role in next year's World Cup. But before that, he must prove himself at Anfield. This will be the perfect opportunity for him to answer all the doubters, especially Carragher's famous statement that "football has left him".