Ten Hag’s United dream of ‘heavy’ days
CASEMIRO FEELS THE WEIGHT OF AMBITION
CASEMIRO has one, helpful word to describe Erik ten Hag – heavy.
Not the heavy metal football of Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool, or the heavy intensity of Pep Guardiola at Manchester City.
Just the singular word and its suggestion of solidity, firmness...immovability.
When Manchester United’s Brazilian matchwinner says Ten Hag is “heavy” he means it in the same way Sir Alex Ferguson was heavy.
He’s not for shifting. Or, if you do shift him, it’s going to take a measure of blood, sweat and tears from those trying.
United fans will be hoping their club – just one point away from securing a top-four finish and Champions League football – are permanently back among the elite. The flimsy, lightweight days are behind them. Happy and heavy days are ahead.
Thank you, Erik Tonne Hag. After scoring the only goal of the game, Casemiro said of the Dutchman: “He has surprised me a lot with his ambition.
“We have been talking among us, and we have been saying that he is a little bit heavy because he always likes to win.
“He is asking for more because for him
100 percent is not enough. We have to give more than 100 percent. He works a lot and is very ambitious. He has the ambition to change the whole club.
“He is a manager who has the respect from all the players and the fans as well. But we need to give him time because despite the fact we have already won one title and are quite close to the Champions League, we need more time to grow up.
“But we can see he is changing a lot of things within the club.
He is always showing ambition to win.”
In one sense, Casemiro echoes his manager’s effect out on the field. The former Real Madrid star adds heft and weight to a team that lacked such ballast before his arrival at the start of the season.
But the midfielder’s game is about far more than just providing a platform for others.
He has scored six goals for United this season and the one that secured their 10th 1-0 win of the campaign showed he can provide some South American wit and flair when necessary.
When Christian Eriksen’s chipped pass was deflected into the air by Marcos Senesi, Casemiro had to instantly adjust body shape and technique to score with a sublime volley.
Bournemouth had plenty of opportunities to level, though, and United even more to extend their lead, which shows there is still a way to go for Ten Hag, below, and his team.
They still have to pick up that point to clinch fourth place, with two games remaining – at home to Chelsea on Thursday night and against Fulham on the final day, also at Old Trafford.
“We cannot be relaxed,” added Casemiro. “We know Chelsea aren’t going well but they are a huge club that won the Champions League just a few years ago. It’s going to be a really difficult game.
“But I am really happy here. I am enjoying being in the Premier League a lot. I haven’t enjoyed it this much for a long time and since I arrived at the club, all of the staff, the fans, everybody have been really incredible with me.
“I am trying to give them back everything on the field and give my best.”
Weighty ambitions, but with a rock solid base.
This is the United of Casemiro and Ten Hag.