Former Chelsea and Arsenal defender William Gallas has defended Manchester United midfielder Casemiro, telling Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher his criticism of the player is 'too harsh'. The 32-year-old Brazilian was substituted at half-time during United's 3-0 defeat to Liverpool after a poor display, continuing a series of underwhelming performances.
Carragher, a Liverpool legend, had previously suggested Casemiro should leave the Premier League, and after the Liverpool match described his performance as 'a sad sight'. However, Gallas disagreed, stating: 'Jamie Carragher is too harsh on Casemiro. He is in a bad moment and maybe he’ll end up leaving Manchester United, but he might enjoy his football again if he was to return to Spain.'
Gallas, who won two Premier League titles with Chelsea, questioned Casemiro's happiness at Manchester United. 'The big question over Casemiro is, is he happy in Manchester? His body language suggests that he isn’t happy living there. He is making so many more mistakes than when he was at Real Madrid,' Gallas said. He added that the weather and lifestyle in Manchester differ greatly from Spain and Brazil, which can affect players.
Casemiro, a five-time Champions League winner, has faced increased scrutiny after a series of errors. United travel to Southampton on Saturday, desperate to avoid a third consecutive league defeat. Gallas believes Casemiro still has several years left in his career, saying: 'He’s only 32 so he’s nowhere near retirement; I think he’s got another five or six years.'
