Casemiro and Harry Maguire were both substituted at half-time in Man United’s 2-1 win against Luton Town.
Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag confirmed the half-time removals of Casemiro and Harry Maguire against Luton were both tactical.
Casemiro and Maguire had both been booked in the first half of United’s 2-1 win and were replaced by Scott McTominay and Jonny Evans at the interval.
Midfielder Casemiro received a yellow card for upending Amari’i Bell in the 34th minute and he then fouled Ross Barkley five minutes later for what appeared to be a bookable offence.
The Brazilian has been yellow-carded eight times in his last 10 appearances for United while Maguire was cautioned for cynically fouling Luton striker Carlton Morris.
“I think the game was going in the direction, there was a lot of pressure on the referee, they both were a risk for another booking and we have a good replacement with Scott McTominay and Jonny Evans,” Ten Hag explained. “So that’s why we took them off, we didn’t want to go in that risk.”
Ten Hag defended Casemiro, who has been sent off three times for United, over his booking but conceded the challenge on Barkley might have warranted a card. “It looked like even when he is not touching opponents he gets booked and often on the first moment in the game as well. It is crazy and today was similar.
“It was so unfair, the first booking. The second could have been given and that’s why I took him off. It’s difficult to play if you don’t even touch an opponent and then you get booked.
“You can see now he (Casemiro) is back in the team he gives so much to the team, so much calmness, organisation, so we are very happy since he is back it lifted the team’s levels.”
Luke Shaw, also booked, came off before half-time and was seen limping through the mixed zone after the match. Ten Hag confirmed his injury was not a knock and likely a recurrence of the problem that enforced his withdrawal at half-time against Aston Villa a week earlier.
