Manchester United fans know Erik ten Hag's comments about Casemiro are wrong

Manchester United's Casemiro fought back tears when leaving the pitch after his sending off against Southampton earlier this month.

Casemiro previously said he grew up in a 'difficult neighbourhood' and he certainly didn't build a reputation as the world's best defensive midfielder without a hardened exterior, but he is also not afraid of showing his emotions either.

It's obvious he cares and that he wears his heart on his sleeve, which is exactly the type of personality the dressing room needed after last season. Casemiro has been the perfect signing and his suspension was always going to be a bitter blow.

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That blow was delayed until the weekend, as Casemiro was still able to play against Real Betis in the Europa League. His four-match suspension started against Fulham in the FA Cup and he's also set to be absent against Newcastle, Brentford and Everton.

Erik ten Hag, speaking at his pre-match press conference ahead of Fulham, discussed his suspension and said: "We have had many more games without Casemiro. We have done really well without Casemiro. Against Arsenal, the two [fixtures] against Leeds.

"I remember all the games and I think we did really well without Casemiro at the start of the season. I want to have Casemiro available because he has a huge impact, but we also won many games without Casemiro and we have to do it with other players."

Ten Hag, who started Scott McTominay, Marcel Sabitzer and Bruno Fernandes in his absence against Fulham, reiterated his confidence in his side without Casemiro ahead of kick-off on Sunday, but he must have privately held reservations.

It's genuinely remarkable that McTominay kept Casemiro out of the