Manchester United legends Wayne Rooney and Roy Keane branded Casemiro ‘lazy’ after the Brazil star’s latest blunder led to Arsenal’s decisive goal at Old Trafford.
Casemiro, who was criticised for his performance as an emergency centre-back in the defeat at Crystal Palace last Monday night, played Kai Havertz onside before Leandro Trossard scored to give Arsenal a 1-0 win.
‘It’s lazy. He’s lazy,’ said Rooney. ‘The rest of his teammates have pushed out and they get caught. He has to get out.
‘Whether you’re a midfield player or a centre-back, you have to be ready to push out with the rest of the team. If not, you play everyone onside and you get punished.’
Keane added on Sky Sports: ‘Casemiro cannot play in the Premier League at centre-half. Whatever shortcomings you have, you can’t coach pace. There was a bit of laziness as well in terms of getting out that led to the goal.
Man United legends slammed Casemiro (pictured) for his role in Leandro Trossard’s goal on Sunday
The makeshift defender (left) failed to get up the pitch, playing Kai Havertz onside to cross for the goal
Neville (pictured) led the criticism of the Brazilian, saying he should have used his ‘experience in the game’ to identify the issue
The play ended up with Havertz crossing for Trossard to score the first goal of the game
Wayne Rooney (left) and Roy Keane (right) also chipped in on the goal and echoed Neville’s views
‘We’re not saying Casemiro can cover 60 or 70 yards, it’s 10 or 15 yards. You’ve got to get up the pitch. Just move your feet. Casemiro as a centre-half will get found out, which he did again today. it was the defining moment of the game.’
Gary Neville also blasted Casemiro for his role in Arsenal’s goal against Manchester United.
‘As soon as he goes past Amrabat, Casemiro has to get up. Look at him jog, you see that ball being played and, once he doesn’t he is in trouble.
‘Trossard does what every good wide player does, makes that diagonal run inside the full back, Wan-Bissaka is caught out and it’s a simple one in the end.
‘Casemiro’s experience in the game, he must have seen the ball had broken down and where Havertz was, he had to get up that bit quicker.’
The Brazilian, whose international future was plunged into doubt when he was left out of his nation’s Copa America squad despite being captain, has been filling in at the back since United’s FA Cup semi-final against Coventry on April 21.
‘There’s no doubt it’s not going to be easy for him,’ Neville added. ‘Before in the studio they said he needed protecting more, he’s actually had that.
‘That is a basic error. You have to get up quicker and he ambles out and there is no excuse for that.’
