Unsung hero: 90-touch Man Utd star made 8 recoveries and created most chances vs Leeds
Manchester United battled their way to a valuable point against Leeds United in a fiercely contested 1-1 draw at a hostile Elland Road on Sunday.
A low-drilled finish from Brenden Aaronson put Leeds ahead at the hour mark but Matheus Cunha levelled the score instantly for the Red Devils.
Cunha and Joshua Zirkzee shone for United but Casemiro was the unsung hero of the afternoon.
Casemiro started in midfield alongside Manuel Ugarte.
His positional discipline at the base allowed Ugarte the freedom to step out and hunt the ball.
The Brazilian had 94 touches of the ball and made 10 defensive contributions.
He produced eight crucial recoveries and six clearances, repeatedly snuffing out danger and keeping Leeds at arm’s length.
Not everything was perfect, as a handful of loose passes saw him concede possession cheaply at times.
Yet he more than made up for it creatively, finishing the match with four chances created.
That tally equalled the highest number of chances Casemiro had ever created in a single Premier League game.
Not a natural playmaker, the veteran was forced to take on greater creative responsibility in the absence of Bruno Fernandes, Kobbie Mainoo and Mason Mount.
With so many senior figures missing, risk-taking became a necessity rather than a luxury.
Perfection was unrealistic with eight first-team players unavailable, and United had to adapt on the fly.
In that chaos, Casemiro dictated the tempo and ensured the hosts never truly gained a foothold in the contest.
His curent contract expires in June and United have a big decision to make on his future.
Stats from Sofascore.com
Article written by Sanidhya Bhardwaj .