Ruben Amorim says it is no secret why Casemiro has won five Champions Leagues and has called the Manchester United midfielder a top player.
It came as the boss was asked about the Brazilian’s United contract – which is due to expire in the summer – during the second part of his pre-match press conference for our Boxing Day clash with Newcastle United.
That section of the media briefing was bookended by answers on the midfielder, who is set to be available for Friday’s game at Old Trafford, having missed the defeat to Aston Villa last time out while serving a one-match suspension.
Amorim began part two of the press conference by telling the reporters that a decision is still to be made on the deals of Casemiro and defender Harry Maguire – also due to run out in June – before concluding the Christmas Eve session by praising the former's focus and work ethic in training.
In between, Ruben also spoke about how United will tackle the January transfer window and voiced his belief that Kobbie Mainoo will be “the future of Manchester United”
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Keep scrolling to read, and watch, everything he had to say...
Hi, Ruben. Has a decision been made on the contracts of Harry Maguire and Casemiro yet? Because both players are out of contract at the end of the season and headed to January window, that's usually when a player who has a 12-month option, like Casemiro, will be extended. Do you have any more clarity on either player?
“No, there is no decision. We have a lot to do. We need to understand what is going to happen in the next season because we need to understand if there is European games, what we are doing. So, we have so much to do in this moment, we are not thinking about that. We will think far ahead. We need to just think about the next game.”
Would you like to keep both players?
“I'm really happy with them, but I don't know what is going to happen, so we’ll see what is going to happen until the end of the season, what position we will be, and then we’ll see.”
“No. Of course, we are struggling in this moment, but the club, we have a plan. We have a plan and we are going to stick with the plan. I think if we have the opportunity to bring a player that we think that is going to be the future of the club, he’s going to come. If not, we have Jack [Fletcher], we have Shea [Lacey]. In three weeks, we'll have Amad, Nous, Bryan, the return of Bruno, Kobbie Mainoo, so we'll see.”
I completely respect what you said about Jack, but he's a young player. Just looking at your numbers in central midfield, it does seem a little bit like what’s happened with Bruno, you’re one unfortunate injury away from it being quite difficult…
“Yeah, but the day before was Kobbie [getting injured] and then it was Bruno, and we were talking about Kobbie doesn't have the minutes that he deserves and needs, and then we you have the opportunity and Kobbie is not there, so sometimes it's bad luck. I think during this year we had some moments that we had a little bit of bad luck. I think when I look at the team, I think when we have the full squad, I think I need to take more quality from that group. So, I'm focused on that. If we can bring someone good [we will sign in January], if not, we'll spend money in the summer, I think.”
“Maybe I was talking about Amad?”
So, this was after you beat Athletic Club. You said the player in the right 10, if he has a left foot, that can help you. And you also said wingers that are more offensive than defensive…
“Yeah, it was about Amad. We played last year with Nous [Mazraoui] and Diogo [Dalot] most of the times there. If you play with Amad, he's completely different. I think you are talking about that position of the winger. That can change our game. I think in the future we can change also, like I was always talking to you guys, the system, we can play a different way. To take more quality from these players, because I have the feeling that if we have to play a perfect 3-4-3, we need to spend a lot of money and we need time. So, I'm starting to understand that is not going to happen, so maybe I have to adapt. But talking about the winger position is to play with Amad is completely different. Imagine if we have a different character with a right foot like Amad on the other side, so you can be more aggressive. You can change the way you play completely with the same system. Last year we played with Nous and [Tyrell] Malacia, sometimes. So, it's a completely different system if you play with Amad and another winger doing the opposite side, in the opposite side. So that was my meaning in that point.”
Is that sort of player, a winger on the left who can use his right foot, is that characteristic something you want to have?
“I think we need that in the future, but it's not easy to... even it's not just to play as a winger, but to have a Bryan with a right foot, more direct, I think we need that in our squad. We play more with Mase [Mason Mount] and Cunha in there. They are a 10. They are not a winger. So, I think it's a position that in the future we can look.”
“If we are not getting someone, it's hard to leave. We are shorter. Even with the full squad, we are shorter for something that can happen here. And we are a club with a big responsibility. We are dealing with all these issues in your heads, in my head, in everybody's head, we need to win every game, it doesn't matter. There are no excuses. So, it's going to be hard for someone to leave the club if we don't get a substitution.”
And just on that, if you don't add anyone to the squad in January, do you think this squad is good enough to finish in the top four? You're only three points off it, right?
“I think it's hard to talk about that. I think what I can say is that we have potential to do more, and I think I can do more with the team and I can help the team to be better. That I can say. If it's top four, I think it's different in our club. Everything around our club is not so simple as we have the talent to reach that. There is so much more than that in the team. So, the only thing I can say is that if we have the full squad, I think I can help them to play better and I think we can be better in the future.”
You talked before about the opportunities that Bruno's injury gives to other players. When he comes back, is this Kobbie's chance now to take – I think you talked on Friday about all the noise and the nonsense – is it now, after all this noise and nonsense, the chance for him to show what he can do best on the actual football field?
“Kobbie Mainoo will have the opportunity that he has all the time. He played in different positions, and we talk about the position of Casemiro, he can do that position. He can play, if you play with three [in midfield], he can play – like we played in the last game – the position of Mason Mount in this game, he can play there. So, in the future, he's going to be the future of Manchester United. That is my feeling. So, you just need to wait for each chance, and everything can change in football in two days.”
“No, it's not that situation. I'm not saying that he's going to continue or not. And then when I see Casemiro training, if everyone trains like him, if everyone is so focused on the detail, even in training, in set-pieces training, even when they are playing 10 versus goalkeeper, and the movements that he made, imagining the game, we will be a top team. If everyone works like Casemiro, and when I say work it’s not just running, it’s the focus. You can understand why that guy won five Champions Leagues, because if you pay attention to everything that he does with contract, with no contract, he's top player.”