Gabriel Agbonlahor claims Casemiro looked 45 in midfield and insists Harry Maguire should return to the defence as he savages Man United’s dreadful display in Brighton defeat
- Erik ten Hag’s team slumped to a miserable 3-1 home defeat against Brighton
- Agbonlahor said Brazilian midfielder Casemiro, 31, looked significantly older
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Gabriel Agbonlahor said Casemiro looked like a 45-year-old as Manchester United were torn to shreds by Brighton.
The Brazilian midfielder was one of several under-par United players as they slumped to a miserable 3-1 defeat at Old Trafford.
It is the third defeat that Erik ten Hag’s team has suffered in the first five Premier League matches this season, as the club struggles both on and off the field.
Former England striker Agbonlahor speaks further talkSPORTmade no impression in his assessment after goals from Danny Welbeck, Pascal Gross and Joao Pedro gave Brighton a fourth consecutive league win over United.
He also questioned why Harry Maguire is not starting matches after Lisandro Martinez and Victor Lindelof endured a nightmare afternoon in defence.
Casemiro endured a miserable afternoon as Manchester United slumped to a loss to Brighton
The Brazilian struggled to keep pace but was one of many underachieving players at Old Trafford
‘It was a walk in the park for Brighton. I watch the game but Brighton never felt like they couldn’t pass the game from the back,” Agbonlahor said.
“Whoever was pressing, they found it so easy to get through and create chances. This looked like a practice match, especially in the second half.
‘Casemiro! Casemiro looked like he was running around in that midfield. He (Ten Hag) had to take him off the field in the 65th minute for Hannibal, a young lad, because he was so bad.’
Casemiro, 31, enjoyed an excellent first season at Old Trafford after joining United from Real Madrid in August 2022 for £60million.
But he has struggled at the base of their midfield in the opening games of this season.
Ten Hag started with Martinez and Lindelof at the heart of his defence, with former captain Maguire an unused substitute after another week of testing.
Maguire was jeered by Scottish fans and scored an own goal during England’s 3-1 friendly win at Hampden Park, prompting an impassioned defense of him by Gareth Southgate.
Harry Maguire once again watched from the bench as United’s defense crumbled
Lisandro Martinez (left) and Victor Lindelof (right) had a torrid afternoon in defence
Agbonlahor said, “Do you know what else bothered me today? Let’s see the same energy for Lisandro Martinez and Victor Lindelof.
‘Martinez for the Gross goal, he tried to make a block, he got a fake shot from Gross and he scored in the back of the net.
‘If that was Harry Maguire you wouldn’t hear the end of it: ‘He’s terrible, get him out of the way.’
‘Harry Maguire is probably looking around the dressing room right now and thinking: ‘How come I’m not getting a chance in this team?’
‘Martinez couldn’t even play out from the back and gave the ball away, also Lindelof. Maguire deserves to be in that team.
“So let’s show the same energy, you tweeters, whoever you are, let’s show that same energy for Martinez at the back, for Casemiro, who can’t get around the pitch, and not just bully Maguire.”
United are back in action on Wednesday evening with a tough Champions League outing to Bayern Munich.
