Casemiro led Manchester United to their first cup in 6 years at Wembley last season – but 14 months later, the Brazilian player reflected on issues within Erik ten Hag’s team.

During Manchester United’s most glorious period in the past seven years, they secured one cup. In contrast, Casemiro has won 3 Champions League titles since Jose Mourinho’s Manchester United claimed the Europa League in 2017. The Brazilian player has also garnered several La Liga titles during that time, along with the UEFA Super Cup, FIFA Club World Cup, and Copa America. Therefore, it’s perhaps unsurprising that his team won the League Cup in 2023 thanks to Casemiro’s goal and outstanding performance in the final.

There’s a theory often put forward by figures like Mourinho, with their extensive collection of major medals and a sense of their own superiority, that football can be divided into winners and others. This theory has been exemplified by Casemiro.

However, the following 14 months have been a challenging period for one of his generation’s finest players, serving as an illustration to Manchester United that success isn’t simply about acquiring players with a history of winning titles. Casemiro had won in nine consecutive major finals he participated in, until Manchester United lost the Manchester derby in the FA Cup at Wembley last summer.

Casemiro has never finished outside the top 4 in a European season, but now, Manchester United could slip to 7th in the Premier League by Sunday.

For Casemiro, the period since the 2023 final has been one of injuries, suspensions, and questions of whether he’s on the decline. He’s received 14 yellow cards and 2 red cards, sometimes being substituted by Erik ten Hag to spare Casemiro from heavier psychological impacts.

It’s becoming increasingly clear why Real Madrid were willing to accept Manchester United’s offer, parting ways with a sturdy midfielder, once part of the glorious triangle alongside Luka Modric and Toni Kroos, to pocket £63 million for a 30-year-old player.

As Ten Hag once stepped up to defend one of his biggest signings: “I think we needed a number 6, and last season, Casemiro was fantastic,” there’s no denying that Casemiro’s 7 goals in his debut season at Old Trafford were impressive. But nothing can defeat time. Casemiro seems to have to put in more desperate efforts to contain opponents’ faster players.

So Manchester United has become the “shooting range” for their opponents. They’ve conceded 107 shots in just their last 4 games and at least 20 shots in 9 matches in the last 20 rounds of the Premier League. It’s evidence of a lack of protection in midfield. It shows that Casemiro is both a strength and a weakness for Ten Hag.

Perhaps last year’s League Cup final will forever be the peak of Casemiro’s time at Old Trafford. The decline of the Brazilian midfielder is evident but there’s no replacement solution. Coach Ten Hag keeps ignoring the dangers day in and day out, and Casemiro’s case is a prime example. Of course, the Brazilian midfielder isn’t at fault; he’s just there, bearing witness to the line between success and failure for Manchester United.