Casemiro Hails “Most Successful Season” Despite Man United’s Trophyless Campaign

Manchester United midfielder Casemiro has surprisingly described the 2022-23 season as one of his “most successful” despite the club ending the campaign without a single trophy. The 31-year-old Brazilian, who joined United from Real Madrid last summer, made the eyebrow-raising claim in an interview with ESPN Brazil.

“Individually, I believe it has been one of my best seasons,” Casemiro said. “I played in 53 matches, starting 51 of them. I feel I performed at a high level consistently throughout the year.”

Premier League Disappointment

United finished a distant third in the Premier League, 14 points behind champions Manchester City. They also suffered a humiliating 7-0 defeat to rivals Liverpool in March, their worst loss since 1931.

Casemiro, however, chose to focus on the positives. “We had some great results against top teams like City, Arsenal, and Tottenham. On our day, we showed we can compete with anyone.”

Cup Failures

The Red Devils reached the finals of both the FA Cup and League Cup but lost to City and Newcastle United respectively. They were also knocked out of the Europa League by Sevilla in the quarterfinals.

“Those losses hurt, especially the FA Cup final,” Casemiro admitted. “But reaching three cup finals is an achievement in itself. It shows the progress we’ve made as a team.”

Personal Accolades

Despite United’s lack of silverware, Casemiro enjoyed an impressive debut season in England. He was voted the club’s Player of the Year by both fans and his teammates.

The former Madrid star made 53 appearances across all competitions, scoring 5 goals and providing 6 assists from defensive midfield. His combative style and leadership qualities quickly made him a fan favorite at Old Trafford.

Looking Ahead

With manager Erik ten Hag entering his second season at the helm, Casemiro is optimistic about United’s future prospects. “We have a strong foundation now. The manager has implemented his philosophy, and the squad is gelling well.”

United have already begun reshaping their squad for next season. Midfielder Mason Mount is set to join from Chelsea in a £55 million deal, while goalkeeper David de Gea is expected to sign a new contract.

Casemiro believes United are on the right track to end their six-year trophy drought. “We’ll be challenging for titles next season, I have no doubt about that. The Premier League and Champions League are our main targets.”

The Brazilian will likely play a key role in United’s push for silverware. If he can maintain his impressive form, the Red Devils may finally have the midfield general they’ve been missing since the days of Roy Keane.