Paul Scholes Criticizes Casemiro’s ‘Criminal’ Error in Manchester United’s Derby Loss to Manchester City
In a scathing critique, Manchester United legend Paul Scholes has lambasted Casemiro for his defensive blunder in United’s recent derby defeat against Manchester City. Scholes, known for his no-nonsense approach to analyzing games, expressed his disappointment in Casemiro’s inability to cope with Phil Foden’s attacking prowess.
The match started with a shock lead for United, as Marcus Rashford unleashed a stunning 30-yard strike into the top corner of the net just eight minutes into the game. However, City quickly retaliated with a screamer of their own, as Foden replicated Rashford’s feat by finding the same top corner to level the contest. With only 10 minutes remaining, Foden completed his brace by expertly executing a one-two with Julian Alvarez before calmly slotting the ball home. Erling Haaland sealed the victory for City in injury time, leaving United defeated with a 3-1 scoreline.
Casemiro, who had scored the late winner in United’s previous FA Cup win over Nottingham Forest, initially put in a solid defensive performance. However, he failed to react quickly enough when Foden and Alvarez combined to create City’s second goal. Scholes criticized Casemiro’s defensive positioning, particularly in his role as a holding midfielder, stating that it was “criminal.” The United legend expected someone of Casemiro’s experience to handle such situations much better.
Scholes further commented on United’s overall performance, acknowledging City’s superior quality and ability to break down their opponents. Although United attempted to hold onto their one-goal lead away from home, Scholes admitted that City always seemed more likely to score during the eight minutes of added injury time at the end of the game. According to Scholes, United lacked the quality and ability to maintain possession for an extended period, which ultimately cost them the match.
The former midfielder highlighted the importance of putting pressure on City once United fell behind. He suggested utilizing the pace and attacking abilities of players like Rashford and Alejandro Garnacho to exploit City’s defenses. However, Scholes observed that United struggled to establish control and create scoring opportunities against a dominant City side. He recognized that playing against a team of City’s caliber makes it difficult for any team to assert their authority on the game.
In conclusion, Paul Scholes did not hold back in his criticism of Casemiro’s defensive lapse during Manchester United’s derby loss to Manchester City. The United legend expressed his disappointment in Casemiro’s performance, especially considering his experience in the holding midfield role. Scholes also analyzed United’s overall performance, noting their inability to match City’s quality and maintain possession. While Scholes acknowledged the challenges of playing against a team like City, he emphasized the importance of putting pressure on the opposition and creating scoring opportunities.