Casemiro has a simple way of shrugging off the spectre of Manchester United’s 6-3 trouncing by Manchester City in October as he prepares for Saturday’s FA Cup final and 190th derby.
“Every game is a different story, a different film as we like to say,” says the Brazilian. “You have to be realistic, and I like to be very much a realist. They were better than us in that game. They deserved to beat us but when you talk about a 6-3 in the context of a league, it’s still three points that you get.
“Of course, your morale drops and it’s boosted when you score six in victory [but] we beat them at home and as I’ve said, each game is completely different but losing in that way is tough for you. But, when you do lose like that, the most important game is the next one which you need to win and get three points from.”
The victory he cites over the City juggernaut of Erling Haaland, Kevin De Bruyne and company is January’s 2-1 Premier League return at Old Trafford. The 31-year-old was in the XI then but at the Etihad had been only a 59th-minute substitute , when United were 4-1 behind, Erik ten Hag preferring Scott McTominay in central midfield.
If a garlanded footballer who claimed five Champions Leagues at his previous club, Real Madrid, raised an eyebrow at his manager’s selection that day he is too professional to mention it. Instead, Casemiro talks loudest where it matters most: on the pitch, as in February’s Carabao Cup victory over Newcastle, heading the opener in a 2-0 triumph that secured Ten Hag the first trophy of his tenure and which, alongside a third-place finish, moves Casemiro to praise the manager’s impact in his opening season.
“The club have already won a trophy and we’ve clinched third place in the Premier League and now we’re in this final,” Casemiro says. “So, whenever you talk about long-term projects, which this is, it’s normal for it to take time for a manager’s mentality, his philosophy to be taken on board, but I believe we’re more comfortable now.
“The manager has had a great season, the club has had a great season, but of course we’re excited and it’s lovely to be playing in an FA Cup final but the difference from then [pre-season] to now is the time the manager has been here.”
In his modest way, Casemiro deflects a question about how the wisdom gained from his quintet of European Cup triumphs might be drawn upon. “It’s true that when you’ve played in so many finals and lots of games and you’re 31 and have that experience, you try to pass on that experience, to instil calm,” he says. “It’s a very important game but we also know that it’s one you should enjoy – a final. But together with my teammates, we can share our experience. We’ve got David [de Gea], Bruno [Fernandes], Rafa [Varane] also who has won countless titles.”
In a first English campaign Casemiro has been sent off twice and suspended for eight matches, the only blemishes on a contribution that has been a prime factor in United’s success. After April’s 1-0 win over Aston Villa his post-game “debate” with Fernandes seemed heated. There had been similar scenes at the final whistle in the Carabao Cup victory. Perhaps predictably, Casemiro talks only glowingly of his relationship with his fellow speaker of Portuguese.
“When I arrived here, and it was down to the language I was fortunate Bruno would help me a great deal,” Casemiro says. “He was always brilliant, and taught me lots about the club. I have a very good relationship with Bruno, we get on really well.
“I can say this with complete confidence, he is one of the most important players at the club and everyone sees what a great player he is. But to be honest and I say this to him, I expect a great deal from him. So when he misses a chance, when one of his passes goes astray [I say this to him]. We always want him to do everything perfectly but these are normal conversations. I’ve never had an argument with Bruno – the opposite in fact.
“It’s a pleasure to play alongside him because in the end he’s the driving force of the team, the one that helps us the most. The team’s engine if you like.”
Casemiro is in the same bracket, though is modest when discussing his role. He says: “When people talk about central defensive midfielders they forget that you need to help your teammates, you need to defend, slot in between the centre-backs, cover gaps that the full-backs or midfielders leave.
“These are the basic principles. Beyond that, people want you to score goals, to pass, get the team playing because football’s changed. In the past it would be the No 10 that would be required to do that. I saw an interview with [Juan Román] Riquelme [the Argentinian playmaker] once talking about central defensive midfielders and specifically [Sergio] Busquets.
“He said that often the team didn’t play well because the central holding midfielder hadn’t, and people forget that throughout the history of football, it was the No 10 who was the playmaker. The central defensive midfielder was always someone that helped the centre-backs, helped midfield, the full-backs, filled in and stopped counterattacks.”
Casemiro is apt at destroying and creating: the perfect balance of a middle-of-the-pitch operator. He says: “In terms of my season here, I’m delighted. My family are very happy here. The club and fans have been brilliant with me since day one. I love the affection from them and that everyone has behaved so well towards me. So I’m very happy and enjoying myself as if I was a 20-year-old kid.”
