Not Bruno or Casemiro – Ten Hag just showed two United players that they are no longer undroppable
Manchester City’s triumphant treble last season owed much to the exceptional performances of Erling Haaland and Rodri.
Haaland, Europe’s leading goal scorer across the top five leagues, and Rodri, hailed as the world’s best defensive midfielder, played pivotal roles in securing the Premier League, FA Cup, and Champions League titles for their team.
It’s no secret that any team heavily relies on their top-performing players, and Manchester City’s recent struggles with three consecutive domestic defeats correlate with Haaland’s dip in goalscoring form and Rodri’s suspension.
Last season, Marcus Rashford and Casemiro were the equivalent driving forces for Manchester United. Unsurprisingly, Erik ten Hag’s team has had a rocky start to the season as both players have struggled to replicate their previous form.
While United managed a dramatic 2-1 win over Brentford at the weekend, the overall performance was lackluster.
Scott McTominay emerged as the savior, single-handedly turning the tide and relieving mounting pressure on the manager.
While Ten Hag shoulders some responsibility for the challenging start, the squad has been ravaged by injuries, off-pitch issues affecting player availability, the top goal scorer’s struggles, and Casemiro showing signs of aging.
Rashford and Casemiro played instrumental roles in last season’s success, but this time around, they have yet to find their rhythm. There are now calls for both to be replaced in the starting lineup.
Rashford, coming off his best-ever season, has experienced a regression, with just one goal for United this term. His decision-making, body language, and confidence have raised concerns.
Ten Hag, when asked about Rashford, emphasized the need for patience, saying, “Strikers, when they’re not scoring, need a moment, and it will come.
He’s experienced, and when he’s doing the right things, and the team is performing well, the momentum will return, and he’ll be on fire.”
However, dropping Rashford from the starting lineup may have a counterproductive effect, given his confidence-driven nature.
Alejandro Garnacho is an alternative on the left side, and his introduction against Brentford received a positive response from fans.
Casemiro, responsible for Brentford’s goal due to a costly loss of possession, was also substituted during the game, failing to make it to the second half.
This was an unlikely scenario last season but was warranted based on his recent performances.
Casemiro’s form has been subpar, with noticeable deficiencies in various phases of play. There are glaring voids in the midfield that were not present before, and he must regain his best form after the international break.
The substitutions of Rashford and Casemiro against Brentford conveyed a clear message: Manchester United needs them to step up and deliver.
