Casemero might ‘cost’ Manchester United their Champions League qualification

Over the last few days, Manchester United’s Casemero has been slapped with two Red Cards. However, this has happened to him before. He averaged more than ten yellow cards per season. However, he managed to escape the ultimate punishment. Meanwhile, his recent behavior has earned him a four-match ban. This means that he will be banned for two games in the next season.

Notably, this is contrary to what his aura and style suggest over the years. This weekend, in what is termed an unfortunate red-card ruling,  he made contact with the ball before his studs rolled onto Carlos Alcaraz’s ankle. That’s always the risk with a challenge like that, and a player as experienced as him should know better.

He’s been magnificent for Manchester United. He’s the central midfielder the club has desperately needed. It’s fair to suggest United would not be in the Champions League qualification spots without him. As Casemiro himself predicted, he’s “fixed” them. How ironic then that he could be the man to eventually cost them in that bid, as well as a second piece of silverware.

United take on Fulham in the FA Cup quarter-finals next weekend, before they travel to St James’ Park to face top four rivals Newcastle in the Premier League, then European hopefuls Brentford and a revitalised Everton; all now without Casemiro.

Seven points from their three games during his first red card absence won’t offer much in the way of assurance given they played Leicester and Leeds (twice), and the game Casemiro missed due to his build up of yellow cards saw them lose 3-2 to Arsenal.