"This guy can do no wrong", "So lucky to have this guy" - Manchester United fans cannot stop praising star player after 3-0 win over Nottingham Forest

Manchester United fans have hailed Casemiro for his display in their 3-0 victory over Nottingham Forest at Old Trafford on Tuesday (December 27).

The five-time UEFA Champions League winner was outstanding as the Red Devils romped to a win in their first Premier League game after the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar. He was almost impenetrable defensively, recording five tackles, three interceptions, three clearances and seven successful duels.

Casemiro added plenty of attacking contributions as well, completing 85% of his passes and recording three key passes. He had 28 passes in the final third to boot and crowned a splendid performance by assisting Fred with a superb pass for United's third goal of the night.

The Brazilian also won the ball back in the build-up to Anthony Martial's opener.

Casemiro's display understandably earned him praise from the United faithful, with many taking to Twitter to laud him. One of them wrote:

Casemiro has had an incredible impact on Manchester United's fortunes

Casemiro has simply transformed Manchester United's midfield since becoming a starter. Manager Erik ten Hag initially opted to use him as a substitute to help him acclimatise to new surroundings, but the Brazilian has now become virtually undroppable.

The Red Devils have lost just once in the Premier League in Casemiro's eight starts compared to thrice in seven games when he hasn't started. He has recorded two assists in those matches, while also scoring an invaluable equaliser at Chelsea in October.

The former Real Madrid man leads United in tackles in the league this season with 40, ten clear of second-placed Bruno Fernandes despite playing fewer minutes. He's also fifth in clearances with 24.

Casemiro has averaged 4.4 successful ground duels, 2.0 successful aerial duels and 2.0 clearances per game in 12 league appearances. He has also recorded 1.3 interceptions and 0.9 key passes per match. The latter is a particularly impressive stat, as he has been viewed as more of a disruptor than creator.

Manchester United have looked like a better team with Casemiro in their starting XI, and the stats seem to prove it as well.

About the author

Anantaajith has been covering European football news at Sportskeeda for almost three years. He previously spent five months at Total Football Analysis, where he deep dived into the likes of the A-League, Chilean and Argentine Primera Divisions, the Turkish league and the Maltese league. A graduate in English and Journalism, and currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Sport Analytics and Technologies from Loughborough University London, Anantaajith is adept at analyzing complex statistics and translating it into concise and reader-friendly content.

He started following football in 2010, watching the FIFA World Cup with his father, a memory he holds very special. The tournament also ignited his admiration for Lionel Messi, who he feels makes the game look simple and produces magic every time on the pitch. Luis Enrique and Sebastien Hoeness are his favorite managers. He supports Barcelona and their 3-2 El Clasico win in the 2016-17 season left a lasting impact on him. The 2022 FIFA World Cup final between France and Argentina is another match etched in his memory.

Anantaajith has interviewed many ISL footballers like Anirudh Thapa, Vincy Barretto, Samik Mitra, Jordan Murray, and covered the entirety of the 2022-23 ISL season and the 2023 SAFF Championship. He was cited on the ISL website several times for his efforts.

In his free time, he likes to sing, work out, play football, or play cricket at club/divisional level.

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