Manchester United's players told each other that a victory with 10 men was possible at half-time against Southampton. Casemiro was shown a straight red card - his second of the season - in the 32nd minute against Southampton on Sunday afternoon, which means he'll now serve a four-match suspension in games against Fulham, Newcastle, Brentford and Everton.
United were expected to beat Southampton, who are bottom of the Premier League, at Old Trafford, but Casemiro receiving his marching orders in the first half changed the complexion of the game and the points were shared. ALSO READ: Man United player ratings as Martinez good and Weghorst poor Although the game finished goalless, both sides hit the woodwork in the match and De Gea, speaking after the game, revealed the message at half-time was to believe the game could still be won, despite the sending-off. "Of course, that's what we said at half-time," De Gea told MUTV when asked if the players thought they could win the game with 10 men. "We knew it, so come on, defend well and we'd create some chances on the counter-attack. "It was like this, we hit the post, we had some good chances but like I say, it's always tough to play that long with one less player.
Let's keep going, we have some big games coming and let's refocus. "He [Theo Walcott] had a couple of big chances and I helped the team with some saves.
It's good to keep a clean sheet in a difficult game, of course, but I think the whole team defended really, really well." De Gea was also asked about the hectic fixture schedule and he admitted it's gradually taking a toll on the squad. "I know, it's crazy the number of games we are playing," he added. "It's tough, it looks simple, but it's tough to play every three