Casemiro says Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag is “obsessed” with winning and taking the Red Devils back to the top.
The Brazil star has been arguably Ten Hag's best signing following the five-time Champions League winner's £70million transfer from Real Madrid in the summer. Casemiro has worked under some of football's most decorated bosses, including Carlo Ancelotti and Zinedine Zidane, but said Ten Hag's relentless desire to win sets him apart.
“He’s certainly a manager who is obsessed with winning,” Casemiro said of his boss. “Few managers in my career had the same obsession to win. He’s someone who always wants to win, even in training, he always wants the best.
“He’s a hard-working manager who demands a lot of his players, so that we’re always at our best and that’s important for us. I also view him as a manager with the desire to see Manchester United grow and develop - that’s one of his most important characteristics.
“Not just his, but all the coaching staff who follow his lead. He’s a new manager here at the club, he’s trying to introduce his philosophy and style. It’s still very early days in terms of football, still early in terms of introducing his philosophy and bringing in his own players.
“We are growing, we are developing very well and understand the manager better, this is really important to win trophies. We know that it’s a process, it’s very important to adapt to this process quickly.
“If you look at the successful managers here in England or at other clubs, they all had time. It’s true we’re on a very good run of form, a great trajectory putting in big performances, but these things come with time.”
United go into Saturday's derby against Premier League champions Manchester City on the back of an eight-game winning run, with Casemiro confident they can extend that to nine.
“Our enthusiasm for the game is always high, particularly given the good form we are in,” Casemiro added. “We know it will be a difficult game against such a strong side, but hopefully we’ll be the winners.
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“We know how difficult a game it is, given how strong a team they are with a great manager. But we know that everything is possible in football, we’ll be playing at home and the fans will be an important factor for us. The fans need to be behind us right until the end.
“It’s certainly a really good moment and we’re on a great run. I’d describe it as a process, however, an adaptation process. Adapting to the manager and how he likes to play, the arrival of new, high-quality players contributing together with the existing excellent players already here at the club.
“It’s undoubtedly a great dynamic and a good moment. I like to keep my feet on the ground and be calm. Things are going well, we’re on a good run and improving, but it’s always good to remain humble and grounded as we continue developing. We plan to continue improving to win trophies.”
