Manchester United midfielder Casemiro gave a glowing review of his time under Erik ten Hag to the press ahead of the club’s UEFA Europa League match against Real Sociedad.
The former Real Madrid midfielder joined the Premier League giants after helping Real Madrid to their fifth UEFA Champions League title in nine years following a blockbuster match against Liverpool last season. The move ended his nine year association with the club.
His quality has helped him adapt quickly to ten Hag’s style of play and the Brazil international has confessed that working under the Dutchman has been a pleasant surprise for him.
“After being in football for quite a while, despite the fact I’m only 30, his [Ten Hag’s] obsession for winning is what surprised me the most,” Casemiro, who has played under the likes of Carlo Ancelotti, Zinedine Zidane and Tire, said.
“I think he’s got many strengths, we all know it’s a process and we’re growing together. We all see he wants to win and his obsession for teaching us and making us better to the millimetre is key.
“That obsession with winning is something I’ve only seen with very few managers.”
His £70 million move to Old Trafford from the Santiago Bernabeu came as a bit of a surprise, as many believed that the midfielder had the best life, football-wise, in Spain. In a year when Luka Modric and Toni Kroos were talking about staying for longer at Madrid, it surprised everyone that Casemiro was willing to leave the club.
Ten Hag spoke to the reason why his new star midfielder chose to be part of his rebuild project at Old Trafford. “He told me when we had the first talk he needs a new challenge because with Real Madrid he won everything,” said Ten Hag.
“He was a big part of Real Madrid, still they don’t want him to go but he had the feeling I have to go to another club, to another league to prove myself and that shows his hunger, I really like that.
“I think from the first day on he is coming with that attitude to every training, to every match and he proves it. I really like it and he will be more and more important to our team.
“I said it the other day, he is the cement between the stones in and out of possession. You see him growing from game to game and with that, our team is growing.
“We are really happy with that process but we have to keep that process going, because we are not satisfied, good is not good enough, we have to do better, so tomorrow we have another challenge and another test to do better.”
