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Manchester United's Casemiro greets supporters after the Europa League round of 16 first leg soccer match between Manchester United and Real Betis at the Old Trafford stadium in Manchester, Thursday, March 9, 2023.

Watch: Casemiro displays leadership skills by b*llocking Bruno Fernandes again

Casemiro has one again demonstrated his captaincy material at Manchester United by having a stern word with the under-fire Bruno Fernandes.

Eagle-eyed fans noticed how Casemiro wasn’t happy with Fernandes in the aftermath of the League Cup final victory over Newcastle at Wembley.

Despite playing a vital role in United’s first trophy in six years, the Brazil international evidently wasn’t happy about a decision his team-mate took during the closing stages of the win – a strong example of the high standards he sets at Old Trafford.

The following week, Fernandes came under heavy criticism across the media for his attitude and body language in United’s shocking 7-0 defeat away to old rivals Liverpool.

“The thing is we wouldn’t have a team-mate like that,” Arsenal legend Ian Wright reacted to the defeat at Anfield.

“I don’t think we’d have a player like that in our dressing room… It’s not good to have that guy in there because of the influence he’s got and the fact that he’s constantly moaning, he’s not working.

“That wouldn’t happen – I’m not one of those players that wants to talk about ‘back in our day’ – but that wouldn’t have happened back in our day simply because a player like that would not get to the levels where he’s now putting all that kind of histrionics on one of the biggest games in English football.

“It’s there for everyone to see, he’s totally out of order.”

But Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag has defended the Portuguese playmaker, who wears the captain’s armband when club captain Harry Maguire isn’t on the pitch.

“He’s playing a brilliant season,” said Ten Hag in his first press conference following the Liverpool defeat.

“He’s had a really important role in why we’re in the position where we are. He’s giving energy to the team, not only running a lot at the highest intensity, but in the right way and right direction.

“He’s coaching players, he’s an inspiration, but no one is perfect, everyone makes mistakes. We have to learn, he has to learn, [and] he will because he’s intelligent.”

United bounced back from the Anfield debacle with a fine performance in the first leg of their Europa League clash with Real Betis. They won 4-1 and now have one foot in the quarter-finals.

During the match, Fernandes got into a spat with an opposition player. Fan-captured footage showed Casemiro telling Fernandes off, presumably telling him not to get involved.


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