Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag explains Casemiro substitution and criticises two players

Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag says he wants “more football” by replacing Casemiro with Christian Eriksen against Brentford.

A struggling Casemiro had one of United’s worst performances and was replaced by Eriksen at half-time with Brentford leading 1-0.

After an impressive 2022-23 season, Casemiro has struggled throughout the season and his place in the team has been called into question due to his absence during the suspension.

“I wanted more football,” Ten Hag said, “one who brings passing, distribution, link-up play. So I thought bring Christian Eriksen for Case.”

Substitute Scott McTominay scored in the 93rd and 97th minutes for United to seal a joyous come-from-behind victory and avoid a third successive defeat at Old Trafford.

The victory moved United into the top half of the Premier League, with four wins and four losses from their opening eight games.

Despite scenes of jubilation at the end, ten Hag remain angry about aspects of their performance and cannot afford to allow themselves to be ‘eaten to death’ again after losing to hungry opponents earlier in the season warned United players.

“Those games give fuel to a dressing room,” Ten Hag stressed, “they know how far they have to go to get results and that it can’t be easy-going.

“In football, it’s eaten or you get eaten. Too many times, in the first half of the season, we got eaten by opponents who were more hungry and that can’t be. It has to go away.

“Every player, every second he is on the pitch, he has to deliver that; that is the demand and the standard. When you do that, we have seen last season, you get a determined team. And we were not always determined on every occasion in games and you get hammered for this and it has to change.”

Ten Hag also criticised unnamed players for their decision-making in the build-up to Mathias Jensen’s opening goal. Harry Maguire played a free-kick inside United’s third to Casemiro, whose pass was intercepted before he lost the follow-up duel.

United had a number of chances to clear the ball after it came into their area but Victor Lindelof’s weak clearance ricocheted into the path of Jensen, whose shot squirmed under the flimsy Andre Onana.

“I think we controlled the game without creating many chances and we had to get more box entries,” Ten Hag said, “but I think when the game is in the opponent’s half, we controlled their counters – and they are quick, they are good on counter-attacks, we didn’t allow them counter-attacks.

“They have got some standards, some set-plays, they are very strong in it and they had two opportunities from it but we didn’t allow them one shot and we had some opportunities.

“And then, same story again, we concede a goal on a decisive moment, totally the wrong decision. Two or three players.

“We start without a formation and an easy giveaway and it sums up a little bit our season, with easy giveaways you get punished in top football. We have two good players to act like this.

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“So this has to be a turning point but this also has to be a restart because we have to get into higher levels. The spirit is good, the belief is good, when the team is together, we have shown strong character and it can be the turning point in the season but it is up to us.

“When you can’t handle the pressure, don’t play here. Those players, they are so experienced. They are so high-quality players. They have to take responsibility.