Manchester United player Casemiro proved Erik ten Hag right over Scott McTominay

The death of Queen Elizabeth II stopped the nation on Thursday. Manchester United were due to announce Erik ten Hag's starting line up at 6:45pm on Thursday night, but the announcement was delayed in a show of respect to Britain's longest-serving monarch.

The United team news eventually arrived at 7:15pm and Ten Hag named a stronger side than expected. There were six changes from Sunday's win against Arsenal with Victor Lindelof, Harry Maguire, Fred, Casemiro, Antony Elanga and Cristiano Ronaldo all starting. David de Gea, Diogo Dalot, Tyrell Malacia, Christian Eriksen and Antony kept their places in the team.

Real Sociedad sold key players Alexander Isak and Willian Jose to Newcastle and Real Betis respectively this summer and they are currently ninth in the La Liga table, which suggested United had enough talent on the pitch to control the game.

Read more: United hold minute's silence in remembrance of the Queen

United's starting XI was worth £398m and Casemiro represented £60m of that mouthwatering figure. The defensive midfielder swapped the Bernabeu for Old Trafford this summer and it felt bizarre that this was his first chance to start a match.

Casemiro, 30, won five Champions League titles and countless domestic honours during his time with Real Madrid, where he established himself as the world's finest defensive midfielder with commanding performances on the biggest stage.

He is also a fully fledged Brazil international and it was a genuine coup to sign him this summer. Ten Hag was persistent in his pursuit of Frenkie de Jong, but United desperately needed a player like Casemiro and he should have been the priority instead.

Casemiro was unveiled at Old Trafford before United's defeat of Liverpool and he