CAS ADMITS GAP FROM LEAGUE’S LEADERS
CASEMIRO has admitted United ‘are not in the best place’ compared to their rivals City and Liverpool.
United have won just four major trophies since Sir Alex Ferguson retired and they have regressed again this season, despite Erik ten Hag enjoying a successful first year at the club.
Ten Hag’s side currently sit eighth in the league and the FA Cup is the only realistic opportunity of winning silverware this term.
Casemiro had been absent since picking up a hamstring injury at the beginning of November, but he made his return to action against Newport County on Sunday afternoon.
The Brazilian is hoping to enjoy a strong end to the season and he discussed his targets for the next few months in an interview with CNN in Dubai following the Globe Soccer Awards.
“It’s a pleasure to receive an award [player career award] like this, at just the age of 31. It’s recognition of some of the good things that I’ve done in the last 10 or 15 years,” he said.
“Each year is always special, I’m someone who lives in the moment and in this moment it’s Manchester United. I’m enjoying it a lot and I try to enjoy it each day.
“It’s good that I’m now returning for the second half of the season. The second half is the most important and I want to really enjoy it, to return and win with Manchester United.
“And to take us to the top of the table and, without a doubt, help my team-mates as well. It’s a pleasure to play for United and it’s a big club.
“It’s not in the best place at this moment compared to other clubs like City and Liverpool, however, United will always be the biggest club in England because of its history, magnitude and titles.
“We all want to return the club to being the best in the world.”
Casemiro
UNITED winger Antony has vowed to build on his performance against Newport County and show supporters what he can do for the club.
The winger has struggled to make an impact on the team since completing a move from Ajax in the summer of 2022. His form has seen him fall down the pecking order at Old Trafford with Alejandro Garnacho leapfrogging the Brazilian.
Antony was given an opportunity when he was named in the starting line-up for the FA Cup clash against Newport on Sunday. He scored and assisted during the game as United avoided a shock result, despite being pegged back from 2-0 up to 2-2.
The goal, which put United back in front in the 68th minute, was the 23-year-old’s first of the season. But he wants to kick on after admitting it “IF Antony got on a bike he’d just cycle around in circles wouldn’t he? Because his left leg is brilliant and his right leg is practically not there,” said Steve Wilson on commentary.
That joke was made during United’s match against Newport County at the weekend and it gave supporters, who have been saying the same thing, a chuckle.
Antony’s preference to use his left foot is no secret and it was therefore ironic he scored his first goal of the campaign – and his first since April 16 – when tapping home on his weaker side.
With Luke Shaw striking the post and the ball ricocheting kindly into has been a difficult campaign so far.
“I know it hasn’t been an easy season,” he told the club’s official website.
“We didn’t get the results we wanted as a team, but we never stopped working and focusing on what needed to be done to improve. his path, the goal was at his mercy and Antony celebrated by falling to his knees, shouting and pointing to the sky.
A kiss of the badge followed and the celebration seemed like overkill for a goal against League Two opposition, who had clawed themselves back into the contest after trailing by two goals.
It might have been sensible to march back to the halfway line for the restart, but Antony can be cut some slack for indulging in the moment after enduring a difficult
12 months.
“I fought hard to reach the levels of playing for this club, I
“I fought hard to reach the levels of playing for this club. I know I can build on the FA Cup performance and continue to show my qualities.
“I pushed myself day after day for better performances. I will continue to completely close myself know I can build on yesterday’s performance and continue to show my qualities. I pushed myself day after day for better performances,” he said after the game.
“I will continue to completely close myself off to improve & play the football that United hired me to do.
“I know it hasn’t been an easy season, we didn’t get the results we wanted as a team, but we never stopped working and focusing on what needed to be done to improve.” Although Antony’s first season at the club was indifferent and he needed to off to improve and play the football that Manchester United hired me to do.
“The whole club, every fan, deserves the best from each one of us. United is one of the main clubs in the world, where everyone wants to be, and it’s where I want to build my story.”
Since arriving from Ajax, Antony has played 67 times for the Reds, scoring nine goals and providing a further four assists.
He has been linked with a move to the Saudi Pro League during the January transfer window but that talk was shot down by the player’s agent this week.
Antony
I pushed myself day after day for better performances
progress in his second year, he has regressed instead and was also unavailable during a period of absence.
Erik ten Hag recently suggested that his off-field issues have contributed to his underwhelming performances, but that excuse didn’t wash because Antony wasn’t firing before that matter.
His record of eight goals and three assists last season wasn’t good enough for a £86million signing and, remarkably, it’s taken him nine months to register another goal involvement.
That’s without mentioning it took a clash against Newport County, who are close to the relegation zone in the fourth division, for Antony to score, which means the jokes wrote themselves.