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Rafael van der Vaart has criticized Erik ten Hag for his reluctance to use Casemiro since the Brazilian came out of Real Madrid for £70m at the end of the summer.
Casemiro was another comeback when Manchester United suffered a heavy defeat at the hands of their rivals Manchester City in the derby on Sunday.
Van der Vaart joined an ever-growing cast of former players who criticized Ten Hag’s team selection, saying his compatriot had created a stick for his own back by not using Casemiro from the start.
Rafael van der Vaart criticized Erik ten Hag’s use of Casemiro since he arrived in the summer
“Ten Hag should have played Casemiro right away,” Van Der Vaart told Ziggo Sport.
“McTominay starts to perform and Man United starts to win and then of course he can’t put McTominay out of the team. I think this is very stupid of him because you create your own problem,’ he added.
With United trailing 4-0 at halftime, Casemiro’s chance to come in and make a major impact on the game was long gone.
Casemiro started again from the bench and although introduced in time it was too little, too late for him to make a meaningful impact
United, eventually introduced on the hour for McTominay, enjoyed a slight rebound in the second half to win 3-2, but any chance of putting a meaningful gauntlet on Pep Guardiola’s side was extinguished by a 4 -0 deficit at half time.
Rio Ferdinand criticized Ten Hag’s use of the Brazilian on Monday, saying Casemiro could feel “disrespected” for his supporting role at United so far.
‘The geeze (sic) didn’t get a chance, he didn’t get a fair lash. He came in and played in a Europa League game against a dead team,” he said Atmosphere with Five.
“He hasn’t gotten a start in the team when he’s fit and ready, he’s regressed in terms of fitness, so he’s worse off now than when he came. He had yet to get up to speed when he came from that competition to this competition.
Scott McTominay (center, left) was Ten Hag’s first choice in the midfield defensive role
“I wonder what impact it will have on someone like him. Yeah, he’s got experience and stuff, but he’s got to sit there thinking, ‘Wow, I’m happy to be here at Man United, but I feel a bit disrespected here, considering what I’ve done’. I’d be surprised if he doesn’t feel that way.
“He’s there and I’ve won five Champions Leagues with this team (Real Madrid),” he said.
However, Ten Hag defended his decision not to introduce Casemiro, explaining: “The day we signed him, we started winning and it’s about the team. The team is doing really well, it’s not against Casemiro, it’s for, in this case, Scott McTominay.
“He did a great job in the team and then we get into a run, but I’m sure it will be important for us in the long and short term. He will find himself in the team, but it has to come naturally.”
Ten Hag will be aware of the growing list of experts lining up to criticize his selection decisions.
The two former Real Madrid team-mates, Casemiro and Cristiano Ronaldo, solemnly cut the bench as they watched their side fall to a 4-0 deficit at halftime
Roy Keane, speaking on Sky Sports in the immediate aftermath of United’s expulsion from the Etihad, said the Dutch manager “respected” Cristiano Ronaldo by not playing him.
“I think Manchester United show no respect for Ronaldo. I think he should have been released before the [closing] from the window,” the former United captain said.
“Okay, you’re the manager, you need options, but you’re not holding Ronaldo to sit on the bench. He is one of the best players ever.
“He’s played it in one or two European matches. It just gets uglier as the season goes on.
“When he sits on the bench for United week in, week out, it just gets uglier. I think United have shown nothing but respect for Ronaldo.”
Erling Haaland led a rampant City attack that blew United away within 45 minutes of the derby