At last, Casemiro makes naked assessment of Man United boss Erik ten Hag

There were series of questions when Brazil midfield general Casemiro arrived Old Trafford from Santiago Bernabeu this summer in a transfer projected to reach £70m.

It was a move that saw the 30-year-old part ways with the reigning champions of Europe for a struggling Manchester United side in the Europa League especially after the Red Devils have started the new campaign in a rather disastrous manner suffering two defeats in quick concession to Brighton and Brentford.

And why some have suggested that the Brazilian’s move was motivated by money, the midfielder however was quick to dismiss such suggestion while bidding farewell to Real ahead of his joining up with the Red Devils.

Understandably, Casemiro has been able to survive much of his criticism largely due to his transformational impact on United’s midfield since breaking into the team, with reports in Brazil claiming he has settled in to life in Manchester very quickly.

The former Real midfield maestro meanwhile has made a naked assessment of United boss Erik ten Hag when he admitted that he was surprised by the 52-year-old Dutchman’s obsession for winning.

Casemiro went further to assert that ten Hag is at a level he “has only seen with very few managers”.

The midfielder who enjoyed five Champions League victory with Real Madrid played under Zinedine Zidane and Carlo Ancelotti at the Bernabeu – two coaches that have won a combined seven Champions League titles – and the Brazil international says the Dutchman’s mentality is up there with the best he has worked with.

And speaking at Wednesday’s news conference ahead of United’s Europa League Group E decider when the Red Devils will be squaring up against Real Sociedad on Thursday, Erik ten Hag and Casemiro were full of praise and admiration for one another with Premier League giants needing to win by more than two goals to finish top and get a bye to the last 16.

Casemiro in his honest assessment of his manager revealed what surprised him about the former Aax boss.

“After being in football for quite a while even though I’m only 30, his obsession for winning is what surprised me the most”.

“We want to win and [Ten Hag] is obsessed with teaching us and making us better to the millimetre. That obsession with winning is something I’ve only seen with very few managers.”