‘You see why we signed him’ - Erik ten Hag claims Man Utd ‘need’ star performer from Spurs win

Erik ten Hag has claimed Manchester United have ‘needed’ a player like Casemiro and praised the midfielder for his excellent display in the win over Tottenham Hotspur on Wednesday.

Casemiro has been one of the Red Devils’ most consistent performers in recent weeks and he was superb as United beat Spurs 2-0, thanks to goals from Fred and Bruno Fernandes. But it was Casemiro’s discipline at the base of midfield that allowed the eventual goalscorers to advance up the pitch with such regularity.

The United manager was asked after the game about Casemiro’s impact and his relationship with Fred which has been long established on the international stage. “It’s definitely a link between them, that’s clear, and Casemiro is now settled in, you see also him developing. You see why we signed him,” opined Ten Hag.

“He’s growing from game to game and you see how important a player like him is for the squad and it was a magnificent performance. This team, this club needed a player like him. He showed in the last games what he can do for the team.”

Fellow Brazilian Fred managed to keep his place in the team for the Tottenham game despite putting in a dreadful display in the 0-0 draw with Newcastle United on Sunday, plus Scott McTominay and Christian Eriksen returning to the squad for the encounter with Antonio Conte’s men.

Yet Ten Hag said he always planned to keep Fred in the team, something he told the 29-year-old ahead of the game with Spurs. “The demands are high and I asked him before the game ‘are you ready?’. And he said ‘I am always ready’ and he showed today.”