United's full-time reaction

An advisor to Manchester United pointed out that Casemiro's running figures were poorer than Scott McTominay's during the time that the club was in the process of finalizing the transfer of Casemiro.

Casemiro held the fort in the tame La Liga while being flanked by Toni Kroos and Luka Modric, two of the best passers in the world. That should not come as much of a surprise. It is possible that this will play a role in Erik ten Hag's decision to start Scott McTominay in the Manchester derby.

Casemiro was kicked off the team as a result of Ten Hag's decision to not play him. Casemiro was presented to the crowd at Old Trafford by Manchester United exactly six weeks ago today. Another midfield heavyweight, Roy Keane, was on hand to give Casemiro a warm welcome.

On that night, the idea that Casemiro would be a substitute for City's starting lineup 41 days later would have seemed like a fantasy. However, prior to that, he had appeared off the bench in games against Southampton, Leicester, Arsenal, and even FC Sheriff.

The final inquiry that was directed toward Ten Hag during his post-match press conference at the Etihad Stadium focused on Casemiro, who is the only defensive midfielder on the team and cost £70 million. It was not a good look for United to not utilize him in a game in which they allowed six goals to be scored.

Ten Hag stated that the day they signed him was the day that they started winning, and that it's all about the team. "The team is doing really well, it's not against Casemiro, it's for, in this case, Scott McTominay, he performed great in the team, and then we get into a run." "The team is doing really well, it's not against Casemiro, it's for, in this case, Scott McTominay, he performed great

"But I'm sure it will be important for us in the long and short-term, he will find himself in the team, but it has to come in a natural way," the coach said. "But I'm sure it will be important for us in the long and short-term."

McTominay was only brought back because United had the good fortune to leave him on the bench at Brentford, where they were trailing 4-0 when they skulked off for halftime. It is unavoidable that Casemiro will be recalled this week.

The constant tinkering that Sir Alex Ferguson did was frequently puzzling, but he was able to secure specific players for particular games weeks in advance. Since Sir Alex Ferguson's heyday, Manchester United has not been synonymous with forward planning.

Ten Hag sent Casemiro at 4-1.

Every permanent signing United made in the summer had a link to Ten Hag, with the exception of Casemiro. The club stressed during the pre-season tour that they were prepared to end the transfer window without recruiting a defensive midfielder, such was Ten Hag's preference for Frenkie de Jong. Casemiro was the only permanent signing United made that did not have a link to Ten Hag.

United completed the £70 million signing of the most decorated defensive midfielder on the face of the world after suffering a humiliating home loss to Brighton and a disaster away at Brentford, as well as having a huge demonstration planned against the ownership of the club. Carlo Ancelotti, who coaches Real Madrid, didn't seem too concerned about losing Casemiro.

The circumstances surrounding Casemiro's signing were just as problematic as Cristiano Ronaldo's return to Real Madrid, with the exception that Ole Gunnar Solskjaer accepted that Ronaldo needed to play.

John Murtough, the United football director, was the one who drove the discussions with Casemiro, which went on for far longer than it seemed they would. This has been made very clear by Ten Hag's intransigence on the inclusion of Casemiro in the team.

Six weeks ago, United registered Casemiro.

Casemiro's one and only start came against Real Sociedad, where he was a liability, but the Brazilian should have been on the field against Southampton or Leicester. That peculiar and subdued Thursday evening at Old Trafford, which took place on the day the Queen passed away, was by no means an accurate depiction of Casemiro.

Because of the clinical victory, an unsuccessful rotation against Sociedad, and two problematic postponements in the Premier League, United's team remained the same for their match versus City as it had been for their match against Arsenal four weeks previously.

A established starting side may be both a positive and a negative thing depending on how you look at it. City needed time to adjust without Rodri, and Jack Grealish's starting presence was notable. Guardiola threw a couple of curveballs with the center-back combo of Manuel Akanji and Nathan Ake, and the starting presence of Grealish was notable.

A player who played for United during the previous season made a critical comment about McTominay by calling him a "teacher's pet," which was a reference to his ability to endear himself to a new manager. It is a reflection to McTominay's mentality and the characteristics he possesses that he has been able to succeed under the guidance of four different managers from Portugal, Norway, Germany, and the Netherlands.

Varane coaches McTominay

However, the argument that Ten Hag had to choose between Casemiro and McTominay in order to keep McTominay does not hold water. It was either McTominay or Casemiro. If a Formula One car is unable to maintain the pace set by the leader, the engine is subject to modification. City sped past the United midfield at such a breakneck pace that it almost caused the tires on their vehicles to burn out.

Even more troublesome than the play in the middle of the field was the fact that the forwards deserted McTominay. At one point in the first half, Nathan Ake carried the ball into the United half without being challenged by anyone. If McTominay chose to engage him, Kevin De Bruyne would be abandoned. One of the staff members at United could be heard fuming about how little pressure was being put on Ake.

The derby was further confirmation Marcus Rashford has no presence as a centre forward and Bruno Fernandes has still not mastered pressing. Jadon Sancho and Antony are not wingers inclined to muck in and Diogo Dalot and Tyrell Malacia were exposed.

After four victories underpinned by pragmatism and breakaways, Ten Hag now has to draw a line under the surrender at City and implement his style he wants United to play. City was never the place for that.

McTominay has been a part-time midfielder for United for approximately three and a half years, during which time the team has experienced a lot of success and failure. United needs to improve their play in the middle of the field in order to get back to their old standards. In a league with a lot of pace, Casemiro could get run over occasionally, but he knows how to pick his passes.

Casemiro will turn 31 in February and is currently on a contract for the next four years; however, he could very easily follow in the footsteps of Di Maria, Falcao, Schweinsteiger, and Sanchez. He will do so provided that Ten Hag does not exercise her authority over him.