Rafael van der Vaart has criticised Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag for starting Scott McTominay over Casemiro against Manchester City on Sunday (October 2).
After a dismal opening 45 minutes, the Red Devils were 4-0 down at halftime at the Etihad Stadium against their archrivals. Manchester United were comprehensively overpowered by Ten Hag’s side, which included Phil Foden and Erling Haaland.
McTominay had a dreadful game, as he was absolutely overwhelmed in midfield and made a series of awful passes that put his team in difficulty. The midfielder was substituted for Casemiro on the hour mark, with many wondering why the Brazilian international didn’t start such a crucial game.
Casemiro joined Manchester United this summer for a large fee after winning five Champions League championships with Real Madrid. Although McTominay has been a crucial part of the Red Devils’ four-game winning streak, many believe the Brazilian international should be starting.
Van der Vaart, a former Real Madrid and Tottenham Hotspur player, believes Ten Hag made the wrong decision and expressed his disappointment on NOS. According to the pundit: “Ten Hag should have started playing Casemiro straight away. McTominay starts performing and Man United start winning and then of course, he can’t put McTominay out of the team anymore, I find this very stupid from him because you are creating your own problem.”
Erik ten Hag explains why Casemiro hasn’t been playing for Manchester United
Following United’s dismal performance against the Premier League champions, calls to start the great defensive midfielder will rise. Ten Hag was questioned why Casemiro had yet to start a league game in England after their humiliating defeat at the Etihad Stadium.
“On the day we signed him, we started to win 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 performed great 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 in a natural way.”
Casemiro has appeared in just one game for Manchester United this season, a Europa League defeat to Real Sociedad at Old Trafford.
