This is the best performance I’ve seen from a teammate in my whole career…He played exactly like N’golo Kante yesterday”: Manchester United’s captain Bruno Fernandes names ONE Man United’s teammate who shocked him with a performance never seen from ‘a teammate before’ against Man City
Manchester United and Manchester City played out a 0-0 draw at Old Trafford in a dull encounter between the two teams.
The lack of urgency for either United or City to get a result was evident at Old Trafford, with two sides in the Manchester derby fairly comfortable not to get beat.
United actually played fairly well, attempting 13 shots to City’s 9, but both sides were low on quality in the final third.
The goalless draw was also partly down to a solid United midfield, with Casemiro and Manuel Ugarte effective in denying City space and winning duels.
Casemiro teammates enjoy performance
Casemiro has found his way back into the team after being overlooked in favour of Toby Collyer back in January.
The Brazilian has had a run of games for United lately and now he is in the rhythm, he is looking comfortable in Ruben Amorim’s midfield.
Casemiro attempted 11 tackles, winning seven, while making two interceptions. He was a constant menace for City to deal with.
In a post on Instagram following the draw, Casemiro posted that he enjoyed the ‘Good battle at Old Trafford!’, and there were a few complimentary replies from his teammates.
Bruno Fernandes posted in response: “Different class,” showing his admiration for the midfielder.
Luke Shaw, who was back on the bench, wrote, “Monster,” with an applause emoji.
Ruben Amorim backed Casemiro
Head coach Ruben Amorim spoke post-game to discuss how Casemiro has won him back over with his endeavour.
He explained: “He wasn’t playing because I understood that in that moment he wasn’t the best option for how we want to play and he continued to work.
“I look at my players in the same way. If you improve what we ask of them, they have the opportunity. If they play well, they continue to play.
That was the situation for Casemiro. The credit is all the player. He is our player and will continue to be our player.”
Casemiro’s situation in the summer will still be subject of speculation but right now, Ruben Amorim is fully committed to him, as he is clearly getting commitment from the player on the pitch.
With Kobbie Mainoo still out, United are likely to go with Casemiro and Ugarte against Lyon this week, when former player Nemanja Matic could line up for the French side.
It’s great to see Casemiro silencing the doubters and reclaiming his spot with commanding performances. From being benched for Toby Collyer to now running the midfield in high-stakes games like the Manchester derby, his turnaround under Ruben Amorim has been impressive.
The stats don’t lie—**11 tackles attempted, 7 won, and 2 interceptions**—Casemiro was everywhere, doing the dirty work and setting the tone. Bruno Fernandes calling him “different class” and Luke Shaw hailing him as a “monster” says a lot about the respect he commands in the dressing room.
Amorim’s comments were also telling—he’s clearly a manager who values meritocracy, and Casemiro’s grind to adapt to his system has paid off. With **Mainoo still sidelined**, it makes sense to stick with the Casemiro-Ugarte pivot for the trip to Lyon, especially given how well they stifled City’s creativity.
The added twist of **Nemanja Matic** possibly featuring for Lyon adds a bit of nostalgia and edge to the Europa League tie. If United want to secure that direct Champions League spot through the Europa League, this midfield duo will be crucial in both legs.
Do you think Casemiro’s recent form is enough to keep him at Old Trafford beyond the summer? Or could United still look to cash in and bring in a younger long-term option?
