Captain Harry Maguire hailed teammate Casemiro after he scored twice to help Manchester United seal a 3-1 win over Reading in the fourth round of the FA Cup at Old Trafford on Saturday night.
After a goalless first half, United, who will discover their fifth round opponents on Monday evening, got their noses in front just nine minutes into the second half through a brilliant Casemiro finish. The Brazilian latched onto Antony's clever pass and chipped the ball over the onrushing Joe Lumley in the Reading goal.
His first goal in front of the Stretford End opened the floodgates, as United added another two goals to their tally in the space of just 12 minutes. First, Casemiro fired home a brilliant second, bending home a delicious effort from outside the penalty area, ahead of substitute Fred flicking the ball home from close range to make it 3-0.
READ MORE: United player ratings vs Reading as Brazilian duo shine
Casemiro, alongside fellow countryman Antony, was the star of the show, bossing proceedings in midfield and offering an extra outlet going forward. And for Maguire, who earned a rare start, the former Real Madrid man's brilliance came as no surprise, outlining just how big an impact he has had on proceedings since arriving at Old Trafford last summer.
Maguire told MUTV: "Cas is a top player and has been a top player throughout his career. You don't win what he has won without being that and playing every game in the success that he has had for club and country.
"He is an amazing player and an amazing character, more importantly. To have him around the place lifts the morale. In and out of possession he has really improved us."
Victory over the Royals marked United's 11th successive win on their own patch, meaning you have to go back to the goalless draw with Newcastle United on October 16 for the last time they failed to win at Old Trafford.
"We have definitely not won 11 on the spin [at home] since I have been here," added Maguire, addressing the Reds' brilliant home form. "The times since I have been here when we have been playing really well and collecting a lot of points was probably better away from home.
"You have got to make your home a fortress; it is really important. It has got to be tough for people to come here and if you were to speak to their boys [Reading's players], I think they would have said that they felt it was relentless.
"The first-half was relentless without the goal and we controlled the game from then on. We got a little bit sloppy in the last 15 minutes, but the game was won and we are into the next round, which is the most important thing."
Win a pair of tickets to the Premier League or Women's Super League match of your choosing! Enter by clicking here!
READ NEXT:
