Casemiro: We’re growing as a team

The Brazilian thinks we’re still in the early stages of the Erik ten Hag era and will only continue growing as a team, with a potential domestic-cup double a great platform to build from. 

“We’re on the right track,” he told club media ahead of our second final of the campaign. “We’re on the up and we’re growing as a team. 

“I believe that we’ve been picking up on the mentality of the manager and the way that he wants us to play. 

“We are on an upward curve, we’re taking on board the manager's ideas and philosophy, so we need to keep going step by step, gradually growing and improving.

“We want to win this final and then of course next season it will be very important for us to keep going with this growth.” 

While being predominantly known for the defensive qualities he offers, our no.18 has also cropped up with crucial goals in his first season at United.

That's included him scoring twice in the Reds' FA Cup run, and memorably at Wembley in our Carabao Cup final victory.

For him though, winning is the only thing that matters. 

“It would be a very special day [if I scored against City], without a doubt,” he told us. 

“But I’m not too worried about whether I score a goal or not, I’m not fussed at all about who it is who scores – the only thing I want to do is win the game.”

In what will be the first-ever all-Manchester FA Cup final, Casemiro is optimistic that we have the right mentality going into it. 

“The mindset of wanting to win and that mentality of wanting to perform well [is crucial],” he added. “Clearly in football, sometimes you win and sometimes you lose, but that hope and desire to win is huge.

“We are really hopeful and excited about wanting to win it.”