Football writer Adrian Clarke identifies the key players, team tactics and where matches could be won and lost in Matchweek 11.
Player analysis: Casemiro (Manchester United)
Ruben Amorim recently confessed that Casemiro was his last-choice central midfielder at one stage last season, but in 2025/26, the Brazilian has bounced back to become a must-pick for the Man Utd head coach.
Saturday's match away to Tottenham Hotspur provides another opportunity for Casemiro to showcase how he has become the heart of Man Utd's midfield.
A difference maker
At 33 years of age, Casemiro can no longer fly around the pitch breaking up play for 90 minutes, but his presence in Amorim's side is currently invaluable.
The Brazilian has regained form during Man Utd's four-match unbeaten streak, keeping the side ticking over with ease.
Casemiro is disciplined in his positioning, smart in his reading of the game, and just as aggressive as ever. He anchors Amorim’s midfield with a valuable layer of protection, shielding the back four as their safety net.
Man Utd's statistics in 2025/26 matches with Casemiro and without him highlight what a positive influence he has had.
How Man Utd have fared with and without Casemiro, 25/26
| Statistic | With Casemiro | Without Casemiro |
| Minutes | 553 | 347 |
|---|---|---|
| Goal scored | 12 | 5 |
| Goals conceded | 5 | 11 |
| Mins per goal scored | 46.08 | 69.4 |
| Mins per goal conceded | 110.6 | 31.54 |
Without Casemiro on the pitch, Man Utd have conceded a goal once every 31.54 minutes, but that stretches enormously to one goal leaked every 110.6 minutes when he is on the field of play.
In effect, the team is more than three times more likely to let in a goal when their veteran midfielder is unavailable; a remarkable difference.
The side looked lost when Casemiro missed Man Utd's poor 3-1 defeat at Brentford through suspension and when he played for just the final 10 minutes as a substitute in their 3-0 loss at Manchester City.
Casemiro impacts Man Utd's attacking play too, partly with his goalscoring output, but also with the calmness he provides on the ball.
Amorim’s men tend to score more frequently when Casemiro starts in midfield.
Has his role changed?
Casemiro’s athletic numbers have been almost identical across the last four seasons.
He has covered around 10.8km per 90 minutes and made 5.9 sprints per match this season. These kinds of figures are consistent for him year in, year out.
The Brazil international’s statistics on and off the ball also show very little change in terms of the number of tackles, interceptions, recoveries and passes he makes.
The areas of the pitch where he wins the ball back for Man Utd have altered a little in 2025/26 though.
Casemiro has spent less time regaining the ball in deep-lying areas, and out on the wings, reflecting the fact he's playing for a team that are now performing better than last season and have an improved structure.
He has been able to focus his attention on staying narrow, instead of covering team-mates in wide areas, or sprinting towards his own goal as a matter of course. He has been stretched less often than before.
A higher percentage of Casemiro's defensive regains have been in the opposition half, with Amorim’s side showing better control than they did previously.
Casemiro's defensive action areas in PL 2023/24 to 2025/26
Key strength: Long passes
In his prime for Real Madrid, Casemiro was one of European football’s elite defensive midfielders, known for his brilliant ball-winning skills and neat passing.
He still does both sides of the game well, but the veteran’s long-range distribution should not be underestimated.
Only five Premier League midfielders make more successful long passes per match than the 33-year-old, who is terrific at turning defence into attack with a switch of play.
Midfielders with most successful long passes per 90, PL 25/26*
| Player | Total |
| Rodri | 5.82 |
|---|---|
| Granit Xhaka | 5.2 |
| Youri Tielemans | 4.86 |
| Bruno Fernandes | 4.62 |
| Dominik Szoboszlai | 3.8 |
| Casemiro | 3.61 |
*Minimum three starts
Casemiro can ping the ball diagonally over distance towards both wings.
From more advanced positions he enjoys sweeping the ball left (see below).
Also, from inside his own half, Casemiro has revelled in drilling passes to Bryan Mbeumo, who regularly offers an outlet with his movement down the right.
A natural goal-getter
With 20 goals for Man Utd in 134 appearances, Casemiro is a midfielder who habitually chips in with vital contributions.
Netting three times in eight Premier League starts this season, he is already ahead of the curve, and that ability to pop up with a decisive finish is something Spurs must be aware of.
He scored with a deflected long-range strike against Brighton & Hove Albion, but his other goals in 2025/26 have come via headers, which is a definite forte.
The way he timed his run and jump to climb highest inside a crowded box at Nottingham Forest last time out was a clear indication of his aerial threat.
Whether it is from a set-piece or from open play, Casemiro has a knack of arriving in the right position to head the ball towards goal.
No other Premier League midfielder has scored more headers than him this season, and he is joint second for headed attempts behind Chelsea’s Enzo Fernandez.
Most headed goals by PL midfielders this season
| Headed goals | Total headers at goal | ||
| Casemiro (MUN) | 2 | Enzo Fernandez (CHE) | 6 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pape Matar Sarr (TOT) | 2 | Casemiro (MUN) | 3 |
| Lesley Ugochukwu (BUR) | 2 | Marshall Munetsi (WOL) | 3 |
Casemiro's opener at the City Ground was his 15th headed goal since the start of the 2015/16 campaign, with five of those coming for Man Utd.
Across Europe’s big five leagues, the only central midfielder with more headed goals in the last decade is Sergej Milinkovic-Savic (17).
A masterful midfield performance against Forest
While doubts remain over the long-term viability of a successful Casemiro and Bruno Fernandes partnership in central midfield, the pair are both performing well at the moment.
The Brazilian was especially impressive in the 2-2 draw at Forest.
Casemiro threw himself into 19 duels, winning 10 of them, and nobody regained possession for Man Utd more frequently, or won more tackles than he did.
He was also a big attacking threat, registering the most shots and touches inside the opposition box.
Casemiro's midfield stats v Forest
| Statistic | Total | Man Utd rank |
| Tackles won | 3 | 1st |
|---|---|---|
| Duels | 19 | 1st |
| Shots | 4 | 1st |
| Possession won | 8 | =1st |
| Touches in oppo. box | 5 | 1st |
| Aerial duels won | 6 | 2nd |
| Chances created | 3 | 3rd |
Casemiro largely dominated his battle with England international Elliot Anderson, thanks to a determined but measured box-to-box display.
This tackle on Anderson (below), robbing him as he attempted to stride forward with the ball at his feet, was typical of Casemiro’s performance.
The midfielder completed his first full 90 minutes of the Premier League season at Forest and, after a full week's gap between matches, he will hope to also play the entirety of Saturday's game at Spurs.
Casemiro is producing his best football since Amorim took charge of the team, and he is set to be a key figure for Man Utd's trip to north London.
Now that he is back in favour with his manager, it appears Casemiro is extremely hungry to stay in the starting XI.